Turn the Page: Audubon's Birds of America at the Academy of Natural Sciences

The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.

options

Turn the Page: Audubon's Birds of America at the Academy of Natural Sciences

POSTED: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 6:14 PM

Filed Under: Arts Museum

Katie O.Clark/ ANSPT

Cataloging & Serials Librarian Bridget Clancy during a page-turning

It doesn't matter if you think birds are cool or not. Because old, huge, famous books will always be awesome. Take for example, Audubon's Birds of America at the Academy of Natural Sciences. John James Audubon's compendium of local birds is the rock star of avian album world, containing 435 life-sized hand-colored engravings by the famed naturalist. Every Friday at 3:15 p.m., museum staffers turn a page in the comprehensive book and come one week closer to its bottom cover. At this page-per-week rate, the book will take over eight years to plow through. Included in the page turning is a short presentation about the book's past, Audubon's personal relation to the Academy and information about how the plates were made. Of course, there will be a chance to learn about the bird of the week.

Ewell Sale Stewart Library/ ANSP

Birds of America is considered one of the rarest books in the Academy's library, so to preserve its condition, staff members take precautions: The book rests in a locked case with an acrylic coating that denies UV light the chance to damage such a prized possession. In addition, employees wear white gloves during the turning to ensure book (and bird) safety. Bird of America's pages have been turning for many years now, but the museum only invited the public to watch it all go down in the past 12 months. Go watch the pages of history turn, literally.

Ewell Sale Stewart Library/ ANSP

Every Fri., 3:15 p.m., $10-$12, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th St. and Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000.

Posted by Admin @ 6:14 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comments (0)

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
What we're trying to do this weekend
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
Bradley Cooper promises he's not an asshole
Q&A with Goon’s Seann William Scott
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: