1. It’s raining in NYC. It’s the middle of August.  Of course, you need something to do. Well, you can go to one of NYPL’s branches for free programs or to check out books (or you can download an eBook from home). Or you can … sketch a kitten. That’s what this cigarette card from between 1928 and 1934 is supposed to be teaching - how to sketch a kitten. The back of the card - found in the Library’s George Arents Collection - includes barely helpful instructions, such as, “First, it would be advisable to try action sketches before details such as the head; these should be made as quickly as possible, trying to retain in the mind the principle lines suggesting the movement.” Got it? Great. Happy Caturday!

    It’s raining in NYC. It’s the middle of August.  Of course, you need something to do. Well, you can go to one of NYPL’s branches for free programs or to check out books (or you can download an eBook from home). Or you can … sketch a kitten. That’s what this cigarette card from between 1928 and 1934 is supposed to be teaching - how to sketch a kitten. The back of the card - found in the Library’s George Arents Collection - includes barely helpful instructions, such as, “First, it would be advisable to try action sketches before details such as the head; these should be made as quickly as possible, trying to retain in the mind the principle lines suggesting the movement.” Got it? Great. Happy Caturday!

  2. I iz the champion, my friendz. This photo from our 1940 World’s Fair Collection in our Manuscripts and Archives Division shows a modest feline surrounded by lots and lots of trophies at the Fair’s cat show. It’s unclear if the cat actually won the trophies, or if it just decided to plop itself down on the trophy table (very possible). Happy Caturday (sorry - we were on hiatus for two weeks. Let’s just call it a cat nap). Interested in Caturday? Check out all of our entries. Interested in the World’s Fair Collection? Download our acclaimed free Biblion app, and browse through photos, letters and more.

    I iz the champion, my friendz.

    This photo from our 1940 World’s Fair Collection in our Manuscripts and Archives Division shows a modest feline surrounded by lots and lots of trophies at the Fair’s cat show. It’s unclear if the cat actually won the trophies, or if it just decided to plop itself down on the trophy table (very possible).

    Happy Caturday (sorry - we were on hiatus for two weeks. Let’s just call it a cat nap). Interested in Caturday? Check out all of our entries. Interested in the World’s Fair Collection? Download our acclaimed free Biblion app, and browse through photos, letters and more.

  3. “I iz Santa Claws.” Here’s a festive Caturday for you, courtesy of our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. We thought this 1914 photo - entitled “Xmas Shopper” - was appropriate for Christmas Eve. It also just may be the funniest photo we’ve ever posted. Happy Caturday and happy holidays! By the way, NYPL is closed today, tomorrow and Monday for the holidays, but you can still download our eBooks!

    “I iz Santa Claws.”

    Here’s a festive Caturday for you, courtesy of our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. We thought this 1914 photo - entitled “Xmas Shopper” - was appropriate for Christmas Eve. It also just may be the funniest photo we’ve ever posted. Happy Caturday and happy holidays! By the way, NYPL is closed today, tomorrow and Monday for the holidays, but you can still download our eBooks!

  4. I iz fine art. For this week’s Caturday, we though we’d share this 1890 print from our collections depicting the painting Jeune Fille au Chat by French artist Charles Chaplin (no, not the comedian, the artist). Enjoy! By the way, the holidays ARE coming, so if you like the images we share on here from our Digital Gallery, why not buy high-quality prints? Under any image in the Gallery, you’ll see a “buy” option. We have over 700,000 images to choose from - give it a shot.

    I iz fine art.

    For this week’s Caturday, we though we’d share this 1890 print from our collections depicting the painting Jeune Fille au Chat by French artist Charles Chaplin (no, not the comedian, the artist). Enjoy! By the way, the holidays ARE coming, so if you like the images we share on here from our Digital Gallery, why not buy high-quality prints? Under any image in the Gallery, you’ll see a “buy” option. We have over 700,000 images to choose from - give it a shot.

  5. Good thingz come in teeny packagez, big boy. There’s really no story behind this week’s Caturday. We just thought this cigarette card from between 1932 and 1934 was a cute way to brighten up a gloomy, cloudy day. It’s from our George Arents Collection. Happy Caturday!

    Good thingz come in teeny packagez, big boy.

    There’s really no story behind this week’s Caturday. We just thought this cigarette card from between 1932 and 1934 was a cute way to brighten up a gloomy, cloudy day. It’s from our George Arents Collection. Happy Caturday!

  6. One of theez things iz not like da others. In honor of Labor Day weekend (which is sweet because it’s a long weekend, but also sour because it’s the end of summer), we thought we’d share this sweet but sour photo from our 1940 World’s Fair Collection of three really cute cats … with a dead mouse. It’s a bit unclear why this photo exists - apparently, this weird display was part of a “cat show.” But whatever it is, it fits the theme. Also, catching mice could be considered a “job” of sorts for cats, so … happy Labor Day and happy Caturday (OK, that’s a stretch, but we try).

    One of theez things iz not like da others.

    In honor of Labor Day weekend (which is sweet because it’s a long weekend, but also sour because it’s the end of summer), we thought we’d share this sweet but sour photo from our 1940 World’s Fair Collection of three really cute cats … with a dead mouse. It’s a bit unclear why this photo exists - apparently, this weird display was part of a “cat show.” But whatever it is, it fits the theme. Also, catching mice could be considered a “job” of sorts for cats, so … happy Labor Day and happy Caturday (OK, that’s a stretch, but we try).

  7. WHAT iz you wearing????? OK, that’s not really what’s happening here. This 1811 illustration by Maria Flaxman is actually a scene from the children’s story “Prince Dorus” by Charles Lamb. It’s a bit of a weird tale, actually, with this cat turning into a man later on. Fascinating. The drawing is currently located in our Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle. Happy Caturday!

    WHAT iz you wearing?????

    OK, that’s not really what’s happening here. This 1811 illustration by Maria Flaxman is actually a scene from the children’s story “Prince Dorus” by Charles Lamb. It’s a bit of a weird tale, actually, with this cat turning into a man later on. Fascinating. The drawing is currently located in our Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle. Happy Caturday!

  8. You iz really pushing my buttons!!!! Fix my clothes! OK, OK - keep your shirt on! This cute image was drawn by Beatrix Potter, who was born last month in 1866. It is currently in our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. So enjoy - happy Caturday!

    You iz really pushing my buttons!!!! Fix my clothes!

    OK, OK - keep your shirt on!

    This cute image was drawn by Beatrix Potter, who was born last month in 1866. It is currently in our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. So enjoy - happy Caturday!

  9. “Listen, we iz NOT cats on a hot tin roof! This roof iz not tin!” “OK, OK. Don’t go hisssterical!” This crazy card from between 1876 and 1890 was an advertisement for F.O Pierce and Company, which had a paint and oil warehouse on Fulton Street in Manhattan, according to an old NY Times article. The card is now in our Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. Our favorite part is the little cat head that is seemingly floating around. Happy Caturday!

    “Listen, we iz NOT cats on a hot tin roof! This roof iz not tin!”

    “OK, OK. Don’t go hisssterical!”

    This crazy card from between 1876 and 1890 was an advertisement for F.O Pierce and Company, which had a paint and oil warehouse on Fulton Street in Manhattan, according to an old NY Times article. The card is now in our Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. Our favorite part is the little cat head that is seemingly floating around. Happy Caturday!

  10. I iz tickling the ivoriez. This bizarre print of a cat playing the piano - engraved by T. Hollis based on a drawing by J. Mason - is currently in our Mid-Manhattan collection. The wacky piece was inspired by “the comical creatures from Wirtemberg” by Hermann Ploucquet (of course). Any requests? “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” maybe? “Cat’s In The Well”? “The Stray Cat Strut?” “Cat’s In The Cradle?” We can go on and on. Rock on, totally weird Caturday. Rock on.

    I iz tickling the ivoriez.

    This bizarre print of a cat playing the piano - engraved by T. Hollis based on a drawing by J. Mason - is currently in our Mid-Manhattan collection. The wacky piece was inspired by “the comical creatures from Wirtemberg” by Hermann Ploucquet (of course).

    Any requests? “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” maybe? “Cat’s In The Well”? “The Stray Cat Strut?” “Cat’s In The Cradle?” We can go on and on.

    Rock on, totally weird Caturday. Rock on.