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Misc.

A digital cabinet of curiosities from the archives

A curated collection of 20 verified public domain images from Wikimedia Commons, British Library, and other cultural institutions. From Ernst Haeckel's chromolithographs to medieval illuminated manuscripts, Japanese botanical prints, and Maria Sibylla Merian's pioneering scientific illustrations. All images are freely licensed with no copyright restrictions. Click the heart to save your favorites, and expand the "Attribution & Rights" panel to learn more about each work.

📥 Download Images: Run npm run download-images:max for the complete experience with AVIF, WebP, blur placeholders, responsive sizes, and checksums. Or npm run download-images for basic download. If you skip the download step, the gallery now streams directly from the verified public-domain sources so nothing breaks while you work. Click any image to view full-size!

About This Collection

A curated selection of 20 verified public domain images from Wikimedia Commons, British Library, Biodiversity Heritage Library, and other cultural institutions. All images have been carefully vetted for copyright compliance and are freely licensed with no restrictions. From Ernst Haeckel's chromolithographs (hummingbirds, jellyfish, radiolaria, orchids) to the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, from medieval illuminated manuscripts (Lindisfarne Gospels, Golden Haggadah, Rochester Bestiary) to Maria Sibylla Merian's pioneering scientific illustrations, from Japanese masters (Hokusai, Jakuchū) to Dürer's iconic rhinoceros—these are the visual curiosities that captivate me.

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Scientific Masterworks

Ernst Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur (1904), anatomical fugitive sheets, and microscopic wonders from the golden age of scientific illustration.

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Ancient Manuscripts

The Lindisfarne Gospels with intricate Celtic knotwork, the undeciphered Voynich Manuscript, medieval bestiaries with dragons and fantastic beasts, illuminated texts from monastery scriptoriums.

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Woodcuts & Engravings

Albrecht Dürer's iconic rhinoceros (1515), Maria Sibylla Merian's pioneering entomological illustrations (1705), Japanese botanical prints, and alchemical emblems from Renaissance treatises.

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Public Archives

All sourced from verified public domain collections including Wikimedia Commons, British Library, Biodiversity Heritage Library, and major museums worldwide. Every image has been vetted for copyright compliance.

How to Use

Browse: Scroll through the curated collection of images
Filter: Use category buttons to narrow by type
Save: Click the ❤️ heart icon on any photo to save it
View Saved: Switch to "Saved" view to see your personal collection
Persist: Saved photos are stored locally and persist between sessions

Sources & Credits

All images are verified public domain and sourced from trusted cultural institutions including the British Library, Wikimedia Commons, Biodiversity Heritage Library, NYPL Digital Collections, and The Met Collection. Every image has been vetted for copyright compliance and is free to use without restrictions.

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