These are the Lewis Chessmen, some of the oldest known chess figures. Discovered in 1831 on the isle of Lewis in Scotland, they were purchased by the British Museum for about £80 or so. These figures, of Norse origin and dating to the twelfth century, are the only examples of such skilled craftsmanship from the Norse period. Interestingly, like the Elgin marbles for the Greeks, these pieces are considered by the Scots to be "important cultural artefacts," and the Isle of Lewis Council asks for them to be returned on a regular basis. In fact, in 1995, when the Chessmen came to Lewis for a special exhibition, there were attempts to "kidnap" them and retain them on the island. While they have returned to the British Museum, many in Scotland believe that they should be returned to the place of their discovery.

This is a room called "the King's Library," so-called because it was constructed to hold the library of King George III, donated to the nation by his son King George IV in 1823. The collection of books was quite spectacular, boasting items such as all four Shakespeare folios, a Gutenberg Bible, and a number of first editions, including Milton's Paradise Lost. They can now be seen (along with the other 65,000 volumes) in a six-story glass "Tower of Books" at the new British Library at St Pancras. The ultimate plan for this room is to have it house an exhibition devoted to "discovery and learning in the late 18th and early 19th centuries - the intellectual climate in which the British Museum was born." It currently is used to display selections from the Museum's engravings collection. The photo doesn't do the room justice. It is a truly spectacular interior.

Another photo of the view from my window. This one is worth looking at closer. It turned out pretty well, I think.

This is called "the last exposure on the roll." It turned out over-exposed.

More to come ... (about another 25 or so).

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