Library of Congress » Lux Mentis, Lux Orbis... rare books, random thoughts

Aidan and I drove into DC to meet with Mark Dimunation (Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress). Spending time with Mark is always great fun. Spending time with Mark *at* the LC and having him show you about, tell you interesting things about the building *and* show you around in the vault is quite extraordinary. Aidan was really amazed. As we stood in the middle of the reading room, he leaned over and whispered, “This is awesome.”…and this was *before* Mark put Charles Dickens’ cane and Lincoln’s life mask in his hands. It was awesome. It amazes me that Mark can get anything done on a day to day basis with such amazing things to explore and play with.

We then drove up to Philadelphia to settle in for the rest of the week at RBMS. We joined Philadelphia Rare Books and Manuscriptsat their lovely shop for an open house and dinner. Having chatted with Mark earlier in the morning about the nature of perogies, it was strangely pleasing to find them offered up for dinner. The house is wonderful (late 19th century officer’s quarters at The Arsenal)…do not miss the spectacular floors. We were greeted upon arrival by Frank Wood, sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. We Mainers get about.

I’ve included many images below-tried to give good descriptions where I could. Each will get big and pretty if you click upon. Enjoy.

: Aidan outside the LC but the wonderful fountain…barest hint of the wonders within.

: Mark looking very scholarly…actually trying to find the address for cheesesteak in Philly for the next day.

: The Main Reading Room floor (note the conveyor belt in the center…see below)

: If you walk about the LC without looking up, you are missing more than you can imagine.

: Aidan outside the “Vault” front doors. Lovely.

: Aidan holding Charles Dickens’ cane. Really. He was a very small man. The box for the cane was made by Riviere and is at least as spectacular as the cane itself.

: The *only* journal known to exist written by one of the men who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyage. It is because of this book that we know he was tall and a redhead. Written in Latin, Spanish, and Portuguese, it has never been fully translated (sounds like a PhD waiting for a place to happen).

: Mark holding the LC’s 1640 Bay Psalm Book

: Aidan holding Woodrow Wilson’s Nobel Peace Prize.

: Alice in Wonderland…Lewis Carroll’s personal copy…with the original pencil sketches of each illustration facing the printed one.

: Mark showing Aidan a very early horn book and explaining real home-schooling.

: Aidan holding the life mask of President Lincoln (made about 2 months before he was assassinated)

: Mark showing Aidan (and me ) Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius (1610)

: Galileo’s 1610 short work on his observations regarding the moon and stars (includes first images of the moon and first printed record of the big dipper)

: Galileo’s fingers? Galileo himself set the type for the Jupiter section. There are two leaves with inked finger marks…could they be Galileo’s. Nice to rest one’s fingers on the marks and hope.

: 15th century Book Of Hours. Stunning. I can not imagine having a hand this steady.

: Behind this door (and several others) are the remarkable holdings of the Rosenwald Collection. Stunning.

: Mark and Aidan: Mark telling us of the architectural history of the building and many of the interesting elements of the design and art.

: Ceiling appears to be gilted in silver (rather than gold as found *everywhere* else). Turns out it was gilted in the *most* expensive metal at the time: aluminum. At the time, aluminum was the only metal that required electricity to create. [blow it up and look at the flowers]

: Conveyor belt (above) and spiral drop conveyor (yellow)-this system brings books from throughout the building (and others) to the main reading room-a remarkable combination of computers and pneumatic tubes.