Words and Pictures From old Books

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Axis Deer (Calcutta), from The Leisure Hour (1896), added on 17th Dec 2007
2007-12-17 08:23:00
Axis Deer photographed by Gambier Bolton, F.Z.S. (Fellow of the Zoological Society), accompanying the article on the London Zoo, but it is not clear whether they are mentioned in the text: I do see some references to antelopes.(read more...)
More About: Leisure , Axis , Hour , Calcutta

29. Seal of Astaroth., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King
2007-12-16 13:52:00
(28.) Astaroth. — >The Twenty-ninth Spirit is Astaroth. He is a Mighty, Strong Duke, and appeareth in the Form of an hurtful Angel riding on an Infernal Beast like a Dragon, and carrying in his right hand a Viper. Thou must in no wise let him approach too near unto thee, lest he do thee damage by his Noisome Breath. Wherefore the Magician must hold the Magical Ring near his face, and that will defend him. He giveth true answers of things Past, Present, and to Come, and can discover all Secrets. He will declare wittingly how the Spirits fell, if desired, and the reason of his own fall. He can make men wonderfully knowing in all Liberal Sciences. He ruleth 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which wear thou as a Lamen before thee, or else he will not appear nor yet obey thee, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , King

28. Seal of Berith., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1
2007-12-16 13:51:00
(28.) Berith. — The Twenty-eighth Spirit in Order, as Solomon bound them, is named Berith. He is a Mighty, Great, and Terrible Duke. He hath two other Names given unto him by men of later times, viz.: Beale, or Beal, and Bofry or Bolfry. He appeareth in the Form of a Soldier with Red Clothing, riding upon a Red Horse, and having a Crown of Gold upon his head. He giveth true answers, Past, Present, and to Come. Thou must make use of a Ring in calling him forth, as is before spoken of regarding Beleth. He can turn all metals into Gold. He can give Dignities, and can confirm them unto Man. He speaketh with a, very clear and subtle Voice. He is a Great Liar, and not to be trusted unto. [this seems to contradict the statement that he gives true answers, and is not present in all texts. Liam] He governeth 26 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, etc. (read more...)
More About: The King , King

27. Seal of Renove., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1
2007-12-16 13:50:00
(27.) Renove. — The Twenty-seventh Spirit is Ronove. He appeareth in the Form of a Monster. He teacheth the Art of Rhetoric very well and giveth Good Servants, Knowledge of Tongues, and Favours with Friends or Foes. He is a Marquis and Great Earl; and there be under his command 19 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , King

Festival at the East London Hospital For Children on New Year's Eve, from I
2007-12-15 03:24:00
FESTIVAL AT THE EAST LONDON HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN.(read more...)
More About: Children , London , Hospital , East , Festival

The Star of Bethlehem, from Religion in the Home (1913), added on 13th Dec
2007-12-13 13:39:00
A crowd is marching; but three in particular are shown in this colour picture, moving towards a bright star. One is riding a richly decorated camel. The Gospels do not in fact say there were Three Kings: they say neither how many there wer nor that they were kings, but in fact say only that there were wise men who gave three gifts. The colour registration is poor on this print.(read more...)
More About: Religion , Home , Star , Bethlehem , The Star

The Angel Appears Unto Mary., from Religion in the Home (1913), added on 13
2007-12-13 13:39:00
The Angel Appears Unto Mary .—Luke 1:35.(read more...)
More About: Religion , Home , N 13

Christmas, from The Real Mother Goose (1919), added on 13th Dec 2007
2007-12-13 11:15:00
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, Please to put a penny in an old man’s hat; If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do; If you haven’t got a ha’penny, God bless you! A ha’penny is short for a half-penny, a small coin. Here, the old beggar has a face blue from cold, and wears a green and blue Christmas scarf; the boy carries a holly wreath and a wicker basket with a (presumably freshly killed) goose in it.(read more...)
More About: Christmas , Mother , Goose , Real , Mother Goose

XXXIV.---Monument in the Cemetary of Père Lachaise, Paris., from Monumental
2007-12-11 06:19:00
Monumental architecture. XXXIV.—Monument in the Cemetary of Père Lachaise, Paris . Albert Bartholomé, sculptor. A stone entranceway is marked Aux Morts, which is, To Death; we see a naked man and a naked woman who have passed through the doorway. Outside it, others, naked and partly naked, move towards death, while others weep. Beneath is a naked woman with her arms outstretched, crouching above a prone nude figure.(read more...)
More About: Monumental , Monument

Skenfrith Castle, from Castles (1926), added on 9th Dec 2007
2007-12-09 08:43:00
The three castles differ from each other in situation and character. Skenfrith, the smallest of the three, and the one which was least pulled about by its later owners, lies low, at a point where a lateral depression opens out into the main valley of the [river] Monnow. The builder did not take advantage of any one of several neighbouring knolls, but chose a site in the trough of the valley, where he could use a stream to give hiself the protection of a wet ditch.(read more...)
More About: Castle , Castles

Frontispiece: Too Old for a Stocking, from Chatterbox Annual (1916), added
2007-12-09 02:10:00
The frontispiece to the Chatterbox 1916 Annual shows a boy sitting in bead, wearing striped pyjamas, looking at another younger boy in his dressing-gown and slippers who has entered the bedroom carrying some toys. In the background flies Santa with four reindeers and a pile of toys. Note that this is a pre-Coca-Cola-Santa, and so he is not dressed in red.(read more...)
More About: Stocking

Children with their teacher, from Chatterbox Annual (1916), added on 8th De
2007-12-08 06:09:00
A group of boys and girls surround a grown-up woman, perhaps their grandmother or perhaps their teacher, or perhaps both. The children are holding books; perhaps it is a reading lesson, or perhaps they are singing to her. The picture is taken from the title page of the Chatterbox annual for 1916.(read more...)
More About: Children , Teacher , Annual

Title Page, from Chatterbox Annual (1916), added on 8th Dec 2007
2007-12-08 06:09:00
The ornate title page from the 1916 Chatterbox annual. There are pictures of a girl with straw on her head, a group of children reading, or perhaps singing, to a lady I take to be their teacher; a boy climbing tree; acorns, flowers and leaves. There is a higher resolution (enlarged) version of the group of singing children. Chatterbox For 1916 Founded by J. Erskine Clarke, M.A. Dana Estes & Co., 53 Beacon St., Boston.(read more...)
More About: Page , Title , Annual

Rothamstead, from Quiet Roads and Sleepy Villages (1914), added on 5th Dec
2007-12-05 02:11:00
“About the same distance from Sandridge to Water End in the opposite direction stands another typical semi-Elizabethan and Jacobean mansion, which, far from degenerating in its old age, has put on a new lease of prosperity, for, as a trasure-house of antique art in the way of carved oak, there are few houses to rival it. And this is little wonder, considering the enthusiasm as a collector of the eminent sculptor (ex-athlete and handomest man of his time), who with polished courtesy and modest pride would conduct fellow enthusiasts round the “linen” panelled rooms, pointing out the peculiarities and beauties of the mediæval and Renaissance workmanship displayed on every side. Here one may study elaborate oak carvings from base to foor: every conceivable form, from the ruggedly chiselled type to the most delicately handled. Nothing is modern. To the most original wainscoted rooms have been added some of the grand old fireplaces from Rawdon House, Hoddesdon (wh...
More About: Roads , Quiet , Ages

826.---Charing Cross., from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), added o
2007-11-20 02:02:00
This is a picture of an engraving of a reproduction of a cross originally built for King Edward I to commemorate his late wife, Queen Eleanor. For more details see Fig. 825.(read more...)
More About: England , Pictorial , Cross , Museum , Char

3.---Chapter I of Blake's Book of Urizen, from First Book of Urizen (1794),
2007-11-17 10:46:00
Chap: I(read more...)
More About: Book , First Book , Chapter

6.---Urizen in the Womb-lie Globe, from First Book of Urizen (1794), added
2007-11-17 10:14:00
Urizen floats naked in teh darkness. Full-page illustration without text.(read more...)
More About: Book , Globe , First Book

5.---The Book Revealed, from First Book of Urizen (1794), added on 17th Nov
2007-11-17 10:12:00
Urizen (?) holds a giant open book inscribed with strange symbols; the text is as follows:(read more...)
More About: Book , First Book

23. Seal of Aim., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1904
2007-11-16 13:19:00
(23.) Aim. — The Twenty-second Spirit is lpos. He is an Earl, and a Mighty Prince, and appeareth in the form of an Angel with a Lion’s Head, and a Goose’s Foot, and Hare’s Tail. He knoweth all things Past, Present, and to Come. He maketh men witty and bold. He governeth 36 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which thou shalt wear, etc,.(read more...)
More About: The King , King , The Go , The G

22. Seal of Ipos., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (190
2007-11-16 13:18:00
(22.) Ipos. — The Twenty-first Spirit is Marax. He is a Great Earl and President. He appeareth like a great Bull with a Man’s face. His office is to make Men very knowing in Astronomy, and all other Liberal Sciences; also he can give good Familiars, and wise, knowing the virtues of Herbs and Stones which be precious. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, which must be made and worn as aforesaid, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , King , The Go , The G

21. Seal of Marax., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (19
2007-11-16 13:17:00
(21.) Marax. — The Twenty-first Spirit is Marax. He is a Great Earl and President. He appeareth like a great Bull with a Man’s face. His office is to make Men very knowing in Astronomy, and all other Liberal Sciences; also he can give good Familiars, and wise, knowing the virtues of Herbs and Stones which be precious. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, which must be made and worn as aforesaid, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , King , The Go , The G

Waltham Cross, from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), added on 14th N
2007-11-14 02:01:00
On the death of Eleanor, wife of King Edward I:(read more...)
More About: England , Pictorial , Cross , Museum , Waltham

83.---Julias Cæsar. From a Copper Coin in the British Museum., from Old En
2007-11-10 11:59:00
In the latter part of the summer of the year 55 B. C. (Halley, the astronomer, has gone far to prove that the exact day was the 26th of August), a Roman fleet crossed the Channel, bearing the infantry of two legions, about ten thousand men. This army was collected at the Portus Itius (Witsand), between Calais and Boulogne. Eighty galleys (Fig. 86) bore the invaders across the narrow seas. As they neared the white cliffs, which frowned upon their enterprise (Figs. 87, 88, 90), Cæsar beheld them covered with armed natives, ready to dispute his landing. The laurelled conqueror (Figs. 83, 84), who, according to Suetonius, only experienced three reverses during nine years’ command in Gaul, would not risk the Roman discipline against the British courage, on a coast thus girt with natural defences. It is held that the proper interpretation of his own narrative is, that he proceeded towards the north; and it is considered by most authorities that the flat beach between Walmer Castle ...
More About: Museum , Copper , Coin

Book Plate: Sproatt and Rolph, from Old English Country Cottages (1906), ad
2007-11-09 04:41:00
Sproatt and Rolph was a firm of architects based in Toronto; the bookplate (Ex Libris) is dated 1915. It shows a woman kneeling with a blueprint or plan of a building which is being constructed behind her, in the Gothic Revival style. I have cropped the image so that the edge of the paper on which the bookplate was printed is just visible all round.(read more...)
More About: Country , English , Book , Ages

82.---Roman General, Standard Bearers, etc., from Old England: A Pictorial
2007-11-07 05:19:00
Here are some Roman soldiers in suitable effeminate poses as they reach the shore by crossing a bridge supported by their boats.(read more...)
More About: England , General , Pictorial , Standard

Title Page, Historical Observations, from The Holy Court (1663), added on 6
2007-11-06 13:43:00
This title page occurs maybe three quarters of the way through the book; probably the book was published in separate sections and has been bound into a single volume. I made a separate image for the Crown woodcut on the grounds that you can’t have too many crowns.(read more...)
More About: Page , Observations , Historical , Title , Holy

18. Seal of Bathim., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1
2007-11-05 04:54:00
(18.) Bathim. — The Eighteenth Spirit is Bathin. He is a Mighty and Strong Duke, and appeareth like a Strong Man with the tail of a Serpent, sitting upon a Pale-Coloured Horse. He knoweth the Virtues of Herbs and Precious Stones, and can transport men suddenly from one country to another. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this which is to be worn as aforesaid.(read more...)
More About: The King , King , The Go , The G

19. Seal of Sallos., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1
2007-11-05 04:54:00
(19.) Sall os. — The Nineteenth Spirit is Sallos (or Saleos). He is a Great and Mighty Duke, and appeareth in the form of a gallant Soldier riding on a Crocodile, with a Ducal Crown on his head, but peaceably. He causeth the Love of Women to Men, and of Men to Women; and governeth 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , King , The Go

20. Seal of Purson., from The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1
2007-11-05 04:54:00
(20.) Purson. — The Twentieth Spirit is Purson, a Great King . His appearance is comely, like a Man with a Lion’s face, carrying a cruel Viper in his hand, and riding upon a Bear. Going before him are many Trumpets sounding. He knoweth all things hidden, and can discover Treasure, and tell all things Past, Present, and to Come. He can take a Body either Human or Aërial, and answereth truly of all Earthly things both Secret and Divine, and of the Creation of the World. He bringeth forth good Familiars, and under his Government there be 22 Legions of Spirits, partly of the Order of Virtues and partly of the Order of Thrones. His Mark, Seal , or Character is this, unto the which he oweth obedience, and which thou shalt wear in time of action, etc.(read more...)
More About: The King , The Go , The G

A Good Thanksgiving, from A Treasury of Verse for Little Children (1923), a
2007-11-02 11:38:00
Said Old Gentleman Gay, “On a Thanksgiving Day, If you want a good time, then give something away.” So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price, And the shoemaker said, “What a big bird! how nice! And since a good dinner’s before me, I ought To give poor Widow Lee the small chicken I bought.” “This fine chicken, oh, see!” said the pleased Widow Lee, “And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me! I would like to make some one as happy as I? I’ll give Washerwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie.” “And oh, sure,” Biddy said, “’tis the queen of all pies Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes. Now it’s my turn, I think; and a sweet ginger cake For the motherless Finigan children I’ll bake.” “A sweet cake, all our own! ’Tis too good to be true!” Said the Finigan children, Rose, Denny, and Hugh; “It smells sweet of spice, and we’...
More About: Children , Good , Verse , Treasury