I recently learned of an incredible resource for public domain literature. The British Museum has been uploading literally thousands of scanned publications. They've posted countless images (illustrations, cover pictures, etc.) on flickr, arranged into broad categories like "s-f" and "maps." The best part is that each of these images includes a link to a PDF file of the source publication! Just scratching the surface I've discovered a bunch of steam-age s-f novels, guidebooks and travelogues, and art and history publications. All superb scans. All completely FREE and solidly in the public domain.
CB+ members might especially enjoy the Museum's collection of two-penny papers. For example I downloaded a collection of the Aldine
O'er Land and Sea Library, a grab bag of westerns, pirate stories, and detective yarns (
The "Spotter" Detective; or, The Girls of New York!) It's something of a pain that all available issues of a title are grouped into one big file. The Aldine library comprises nearly 700 pages. A minor irritation given the abundance of riches the Museum offers.
I just uploaded to CB+ the Museum's copy of
Funny Books for Children, a bizarre 1856 illustrated book in which naughty children suffer awful fates (like catching fire and burning to death).
Visit the British Museum flickr stream! You may end up spending hours there like I did. Here's a link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/
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Topic: A Treasure Trove of Very Old Wonders (Read 1777 times)
