The Rarest of the Rare: Stories
Behind the Treasures at the Harvard
Museum of Natural History by Mark
Sloan
Great Subject, Great Text, Great Photos.
Where do you find Nabokovs butterflies, George Washingtons pheasants,
and the only stuffed bird remaining from the Lewis and Clark expedition?
The vast collections of animals, minerals, and plants at the Harvard
Museum of Natural History are among the oldest in the country, dating
back to the 1700s. In the words of Edward O. Wilson, the museum stands
as both cabinet of wonder and temple of science. Its rich and unlikely
history involves literary figures, creationists, millionaires, and visionary
scientists from Asa Gray to Stephen Jay Gould. Its mastodon skeleton --
still on display -- is even linked to one of the nineteenth centurys most
bizarre and notorious murders. The Rarest of the Rare tells the
fascinating stories behind the extinct butterflies, rare birds, lost plants,
dazzling meteorites, and other scientific and historic specimens that fill the
museums halls. Youll learn about the painting that catches Audubon in a
shameful lie, the sand dollar collected by Darwin during the voyage of the
Beagle, and dozens of other treasures in this surprising, informative, and
often amusing tour of the natural world.
Personal Review: The Rarest of the Rare: Stories Behind the
Treasures at the Harvard Museum of Natural History by Mark
Sloan

Museum enthusiasts and natural history buffs alike will find the museum
stories in The Rarest of the Rare: Stories Behind the Treasures at the
Harvard Museum of Natural History are enhanced with nearly a hundred
color photos by Mark Sloan as images accompany descriptions for some
of the unusual specimens housed at the Harvard Museum of Natural
History, with Nancy Pick explaining the special importance of each. The
Rarest Of The Rare is more than a mere listing or summary outline of
specimens as author Nancy Pick reveals just how the item was collected
and where, as well as noting the diverse financial and collector contributors
who often performed extraordinary feats to get the specimen to the
museum.
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