Adventures of a Library Cat

As curator of the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, I work with rare books and other materials every day. It is the best type of adventure: discovering new things about old books, maps, and manuscripts, and then sharing that knowledge. Many of the posts here will feature items from the Bell Library's collections, but other things will surface, as well. This content does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Minnesota, or any related entities.

Monday, August 05, 2019

Library Cats

August 8 is International Cat Day! I must confess that our striped tabby, Tiger Belle, was less than impressed with our low-key celebration, although she did love the extra crunchy treats. This celebratory day in honor of our feline friends was established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Here is another cat from the Bell Library collection to enjoy. It was used as a printer's mark by the Venetian Sessa family, active in the printing and book trade in Venice from 1501 to 1617.

Sessa Printer's Mark, 1519