Friends of the John Martin Rare Book Room
Friends of the John Martin Rare Book Room
Two satyrs facing each other in a field while one plays a long white instrument and the other dances, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.

Monster M.A.S.H.

Damien Ihrig, MA, MLIS
Curator, John Martin Rare Book Room

Hey folks, back by popular demand is a newsletter filled with horrible Halloween pun fun. This month I Frankenstein together a collection of illustrations with "monsters." These frightfully delightful images are brought to you courtesy of Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa (1697). Physica curiosa is a collection of stories and illustrations compiled by Schott about western knowledge of mythical creatures, congenital abnormalities, and animals from around the world.

At almost 1400 pages, Schott's book is a bit of a monster itself. Schott "borrowed" his illustrations from an earlier book by Aldrovandi, Monstrorum historia (1642), which we also have, but is currently receiving a little TLC from the good folks at Conservation and Collections Care.

I hope you enjoy this brief diversion during your busy fall and we will resume normal programming next month.

Until then, safe Halloweening, everyone. Stay well and happy reading!

REMINDER:
A color photograph showing a Caucasian male, Dr. Jonathan Reeder, with short, brown hair. It shows his head and upper torso, dressed in a light blue button up shirt, while he is standing in a green field.October 18 at 5:30 pm – The John Martin Rare Book Room Presents
Mental Health and the Weight of the Past: How Early Modern Physicians Read Greek Psychology
401 Hardin Library (in person, but it will be recorded)

Jonathan Reeder, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Classics
University of Iowa

This talk begins with a brief survey of the history of scientific discourse on mental health, then focuses on the intellectual and professional dilemma faced by early modern physicians: either repeat Greek psychology and suppress one's own originality, or challenge the giants of Greek medicine along with their scientific and cultural weight. The lecture tells the story of how some authors of the JMRBR collection grappled with the authority of the past against the backdrop of an area of medicine which is of great concern in our own time.

Hours

The Room is available Monday-Thursday, 8:30-5:00 (U.S. Central) and Friday by appointment. Face masks are welcome and available for free to all visitors. To guarantee the Room is available, please contact me at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154.

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a cat-like squirrel (or squirrel-like cat) with smaller squirrels on its back - its giant tail covering the smaller squirrels, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
"Uhhh...do I have something on my back?"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a "monstrous rooster", from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a grinning tiger, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
"Well, hello." "What, me worry?"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a two-legged male centaur with its arms crossed, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
"'Sup?"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a monster with scaled legs and arms and three animal heads, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a humanoid fish with body parts that look like a hat and cape, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
"I am so confused right now!" "Ayyyyyyyyyyy"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a merman with its arms wide open, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
"No, seriously...the human was this big!"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a seven-headed and seven-armed cyclops with two satyr legs, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a humanoid monster with satyr legs, wings at its waist, and four outstrecthed arms, from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.

"Sure, getting the woolly pants was easy. Finding a nice top has been a nightmare." h/t to Liz Riordan in Special Collections

 "Arm day!"

 

Color photo of a black and white illustration of a "sea devil", from Gaspar Schott's Physica curiosa, 1697.
Sea Devil reacting to the taste of kale
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The University of Iowa

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact our office in advance at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154.