150 Years of On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published on Thursday 24 November 1859. I'm going to mark this significant anniversary by reading two books:

• On the origin of species : the illustrated edition, recommended in Library Journal's Darwin reading list and edited by David Quammen (published by Serling in 2008, ISBN 978-1-4027-5639-9
  
  
• Richard Dawkins' new book, The greatest show on Earth : the evidence for evolution
  

Today I'm reminded of the impact that just a few voyages can have on our culture--even the impact of just one person aboard just one vessel--and of the rich maritime history that often underlies, and inspires, our other endeavors.

Imperator on Flickr

The Library of Congress has been contributing photos from the George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) to the Flickr Commons, which include many wonderful photos of the Hamburg America Line's SS Imperator from June 1913, which include close details as well as grand images of the entire vessel.

These photos will no doubt interest many, as the Imperator was later well-known in the English-speaking world when she served as the Cunard's flagship, the RMS Berengaria.

NMM's expanded prints & images sites

My thanks to Douglas McCarthy, Picture Library Manager at NMM in Greenwich, for writing about the expansion and improvement of nmmprints.com--there are now over 14,000 images online in revamped categories and in featured collections.

Check out the "Art of World War II" to find Norman Wilkinson's works, online for the first time ever, as well as works by other artists such as Charles Pears, Eric Ravilious and Richard Eurich. If you'd like a broad overview, select the "Bestsellers" collection for some delightful browsing.

But wait! There's more!

The sister site, nmmimages.com, has new content as well in two new collections, Sons of Sindbad: dhow voyages in Arabia, 1938-39 with the striking photography of Alan Villiers and Caricature & satire, a collection of satirical prints from the 18th and 19th century, which, according to Douglas, parodies "everyone from ordinary seamen to Prime Ministers and the Astronomer Royal!" I really like the long captions that accompany the larger version of an image--they often explain the humor which wasn't readily apparent to me!

So if you're doing research, or even seeking the perfect gift for a maritime enthusiast, do check out these wonderful expanded collections.

L'Espérence

L'Espérence, appartenant à Mr. Vitel. (1862)

Hand colored lithograph from Monographie de l'oeuvre de Bernard Palissy : suivie d'un choix de ses continuateurs ou imitateurs.

Part of the NYPL Digital Gallery, which also participates in the Flickr Commons.

Dreaming the ferry terminal

Claudia La Rocco's article in the New York Times, A reason to miss the boat: dance at the ferry terminal, begins with enchantment:

Ferry terminals are surprisingly dreamy spaces.

Her article reviews a site specific dance piece, "Halt!" by Pavel Zustiak, with such poetry that you feel you are watching the dancers emerge from the crowds at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. Her writing made me stop and think about the role of the ferry terminal--a portal, a transitional space. She states that Pavel Zustiak often explores the line between private and public space, and what better place to explore that line than the portal between the shore and the water?