NYPL Treasures

The Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library’s Treasures is on the main floor of the Main Branch (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) on Fifth Avenue. It’s an impressive collection of remarkable items from the library’s vast collections. Sure, there are books and manuscripts, but there are also paintings, sculpture, objects connected to famous people, and many other meaningful artifacts. And best of all, it’s absolutely FREE and open to the public during library hours.

There are two free tours of the Treasures exhibit every day, and no advance registration is required. Exhibit contents are refreshed periodically, so even though we had seen Treasures before, there were new things to discover.

[To see captions, view gallery on a computer instead of a mobile device.]

Bible printed in four languages

Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft, 1804

Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) and mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. Mary Wollstonecraft was pregnant when she sat for this portrait, and died 10 days after giving birth (hence the black lace overpainting). This portrait was once owned by Aaron Burr’s daughter Theodosia.

Draft of George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Handwritten by Washington, in collaboration with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

Winnie-the-Pooh and friends (ca. 1921)

These original toy animals belonged to Christopher Robin, the son of A. A. Milne.

Miniature leaf-shaped Qur'an

Tickhill Psalter, ca. 1310

Nottingham prior Tickhill was discharged from his position due to financial misconduct, due in large part to the costs of producing this elaborate manuscript.

71125: Fifty Years of Silence (Tatana Kellner) 1992)

Kellner’s books chronicle the ordeals of her parents during the Holocaust. Left: Handwritten account in Polish; Right: English translation; Center: paper-mâché cast of parent’s arm with tattoo of serial number from Auschwitz