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Posted by: Neely Tucker
Edward Gorey, that bearded patron saint of the sad and whimsical, the strange and witty, would have turned 100 this year, and centennial celebrations are happening all year long. The Library preserves hundreds of his works, including rare and unique items, such as a tiny edition of ... "The Gashlycrumb Tinies."
Posted in: Books, Illustrated Books, Rare Book and Special Collections, Writers
Posted by: Neely Tucker
If you were a well-born English lady in a 17th-century family, you might be just as likely to accessorize your satin gown with earrings or a fan as you would an elaborately embroidered prayer book. The Library preserves a customized 1641 Book of Psalms, a marvel not only for its diminutive size, but also for its remarkable condition and lavish decoration. At more than 380 years old, its golden threads remain unfrayed and its intricate swirls of tiny seed pearls — hundreds of them — are perfectly intact.
Posted in: LCM, Rare Book and Special Collections
Posted by: Courtney Pomeroy
In 2015, when Pope Francis became the fourth pope to visit the U.S., he blessed a modern masterpiece of a Bible that was then donated in his honor to the Library. As the world mourns the pontiff, we wanted to share this beautiful artifact and remember that special moment. The pope’s time in the U.S. …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Exhibitions, Rare Book and Special Collections
Posted by: Neely Tucker
A family Bible in Washington, looted by a British soldier during the War of 1812 and kept in his family for generations, was eventually returned to the nation more than a century later. It is now preserved by the Library, an artifact of two nations of war and then in peace.
Posted in: American Revolution, LCM, Rare Book and Special Collections, Washington DC