Press "Enter" to skip to content

A Book for your Valentine?

Valentine’s Day is a mere 24 hours away. Still in need of a gift for your sweetheart?  Consider celebrating that someone special by adopting a book in their honor or memory. Every adoption includes a physical and online bookplate. Gifts go toward acquiring and conserving our rare books, so you leave a legacy of love for generations to come.

Adopt-Wenzell-2
Illustration from The Passing Show.

Some of our Valentine-themed adoptable options include:

Forget-me-not, or, The philipena A compilation of love poems published in a miniature volume still in its original beautifully decorated red binding.

Marriage: Its History and Ceremonies .  A mid-nineteenth century illustrated book about the functions and qualifications for happy marriages, backed by popular pseudo-science of the day!

The Passing Show: Drawings  The Passing Show is a collection of A. B. Wenzell’s drawings depicting the interactions of the upper class, often with images of flirtation and wooing with various levels of success.

Matrimonial ladder: or Such things are,  A wonderfully illustrated and “wise” little volume about the ups and downs of marriage.
All are available until adopted. We wish you a day filled with warmth & good reading!

With love,
The Smithsonian Libraries staff

Adopt-Lunt-2
Romantic cover of Forget-me-not, or, The philipena.

 

 

 

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *