A Glorious Enterprise

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Cleared and stained specimens of youg horse-eye jacks (Caranx latus) from Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. ANSP Ichthyology Department. This is a species that was first described by Academy member Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) in 1831. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Mounted bird skeleton. Duc de Rivoli collection. Given by T.B. Wilson in 1846. ANSP Exhibits Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. A series of Beautiful Rosefinch (Carpodacus pulcherrimus) specimens collected by Brooke Dolan in Tibet, 1934-35. ANSP Ornithology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Coconut crabs (Birgus latro) collected on Flint Island (an uninhabited coral atoll four hundred nautical miles northwest of Tahiti in the Central Pacific) by C.D. Voy in 1875. ANSP General Invertebrates Collection. The specimens were donated to the Academy by Annie P. Cope in 1901. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell — A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISE
Photographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science.

Coconut crabs (Birgus latro) collected on Flint Island (an uninhabited coral atoll four hundred nautical miles northwest of Tahiti in the Central Pacific) by C.D. Voy in 1875. ANSP General Invertebrates Collection. The specimens were donated to the Academy by Annie P. Cope in 1901.

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Mounted Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird. Duc de Rivoli collection. Given to the Academy by T.B. Wilson in 1846. ANSP Exhibits Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. A collection of slime molds (Myxomycetes) assembled by George A. Rex in the late nineteenth century. ANSP Botany Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. “Leaf insects” (a lineage of tropical walking sticks). These remarkable Phasmida are found in rainforest canopies of tropical Asia. Included in this group are some newly described specimens from the Philippines. The other are from New Guinea and the Seychelles. ANSP Entomology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell — A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISE
Photographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science.

“Leaf insects” (a lineage of tropical walking sticks). These remarkable Phasmida are found in rainforest canopies of tropical Asia. Included in this group are some newly described specimens from the Philippines. The other are from New Guinea and the Seychelles. ANSP Entomology Department.

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Shed snake skins collected by George M. Feirer in 1942. ANSP Herpetology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Birds of Paradise, collected by S. Dillon Ripley in Dutch New Guinea on the Denison-Crockett Expedition, 1937. ANSP Ornithology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Collection of sphinx or hawk moths (Hemaris thysbee) from eastern North America. ANSP Entomology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Skulls of the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) presented to the Academy by Thomas B. Wilson in 1846. ANSP Ornithology Deparment.  Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Reddish Egret egg collected by John James Audubon in Florida. ANSP Ornithology Department. Photo: Photography by Rosamond Purcell

A GLORIOUS ENTERPRISEPhotographs from a book of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences’ collection depict the making of American science. Drawer of minerals from the Seybert Collection, purchased by the Academy members in 1812. Cabinet dated 1825. ANSP Mineralogy Department.

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