overholt

overholt, 1 month ago to random

We have some wonderful Bavarian incunables (books printed before 1500, and not “incurables” however much autocorrect insists) for today’s workshops from the distinguished Dr. Bettina Wagner of the State Library of Bamberg.

An opening from the Nuremberg Chronicle showing a woodcut of Troy
Title page of the Revelations of St. Brigitte with a woodcut portrait
A 15th century binding with elaborate blind tooled decorations and paper title and shelfmark labels

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Standing ovation to my colleagues in the User Research Lab presenting on a study they did on improving the design and labeling of collections enclosures for enhanced patron usability.

The title of the talk: "What Does the Box Say?"

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Very excited about the Harvard Map Collection’s forthcoming exhibition on xkcd and cartography.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Great moments in labeling.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

🎶 I want to long divide all night
And subtract every day 🎶

overholt, 1 month ago to random

I am jazzed to see my eclipse pop-up exhibition featured in the Harvard Gazette’s daily email today! Stop by and see some cool eclipse-related things from the collection and pick up a free pair of eclipse glasses (while supplies last). https://libcal.library.harvard.edu/calendar/main/eclipse-exhibition

overholt, 1 month ago to random

“We do have a completely full flight today” and “We’re experiencing heavier than usual call volumes” are both ways of expressing more or less permanent conditions as exceptional.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Just got out of a bottomless mimosa brunch, so if I post on here that I think I’ve got a guaranteed system for winning at blackjack please talk me out of that.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

We were mysteriously upgraded to a ginormous suite (my best guess is that we checked in very late and they were out of rooms). Not only is it as big as the apartment I lived in for my first decade in Boston, the decor is tailored to my interests!

Reproduction of a 16th century map of Paris

overholt, 1 month ago to random

If eclipses have you perplexed, help is available: a fully digitized copy of Eclipses Made Easy to the Minds and Capacity of the Young (1836)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:27421862

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Retraction Watch is tracking mass resignations from journal editorial boards. (Via @pluralistic ) https://retractionwatch.com/the-retraction-watch-mass-resignations-list/

overholt, 1 month ago to random

More from my visit to Omega Mart.

Cheese Expressions COLBY JACK Jazz Blend Cheese Expressions COLBY JACK Hot Tropical Cheese Expressions COLBY JACK Driving Me Paisley
Soup cans in flavors like Implied Chicken and Dream of Mushroom
Y2K themed canned foods

overholt, 1 month ago to random

@debcha (At Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart)

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Probably the only time you'll see me posting something from Twitter on here.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

One week from today, stop by Houghton for a popup exhibition showcasing our collection of eclipse material, then pick up a free pair of eclipse glasses (while supplies last) and head outside to see the real thing! https://libcal.library.harvard.edu/calendar/main/eclipse-exhibition

overholt, 1 month ago to random

An army of Easter bunnies gather and decorate eggs in this collection of decorated children’s handkerchiefs from 1890s Germany. https://blogs.princeton.edu/cotsen/2024/03/first-gather-your-eggs-then-boil-and-decorate-them-some-easter-bunny-handkerchiefs/

Bunnies painting one very large egg as well as smaller ones

overholt, 1 month ago to random

The 1476 Kalendarium is a landmark in the history of printing, as arguably the first book with a separate title page giving the title, author, printer, and date. It still looks somewhat different from our idea of a title page, though, especially because the title is given as part of a prefatory verse. https://rylandscollections.com/2024/03/27/incunabula-cataloguing-project-5-an-early-astronomical-calendar-and-an-innovation-in-book-design/

overholt, 1 month ago to random

A fun post about bindings that seem weirdly off until you realize that they show the traces of having been recycled from a different book. (In Dutch first and English below.) https://boundforhistory.com/2024/03/26/banden-in-banden-hoe-herken-je-hergebruik/

A similar example with a gold medallion centered on the spine but overlapping onto the covers.

hannah, 1 month ago to random

I’m actually very patriotic but just for stuff like this

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Thoughtful of them to put it where nobody would slip.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

We have fully digitized a copy of one of the most beautiful, exuberant, and challenging to pronounce Renaissance illustrated books, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. http://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:FHCL.HOUGH:102934627

overholt, 1 month ago to random

I got a very cool behind the scenes tour of Harvard’s Museum of the Ancient Near East this morning including drawer upon drawer of cuneiform tablets. It’s hard to see, but the white is foam, with tiny nooks carved out for the tablet plus a space above to pull it out with your fingertip.

I was a little disappointed that the curator had never heard of Ea-Nasir.

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Houghton Library news: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/arts/harvard-human-skin-binding-book.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gE0._zE4.2qb6SLOShyaK&smid=url-share

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Musée du Louvre, Service des publics
A l’attention de Mona Lisa
75058 Paris Cedex 01, France

June 12, 1950

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa,

Men have named you. You're so like the lady with the mystic smile. Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you for that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?

Sincerely yours,
Nat “King” Cole

https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/art-bite-mona-lisa-mailbox-louvre-2433223

overholt, 1 month ago to random

Missing the capital Q I was taught that kind of looks like a 2 and should be at far bottom right with Z. https://xkcd.com/2912/