Collecting
When 170 Wild Monkeys Escaped From a 'Jungle Camp' and Terrorized New York
In 1935, dozens of rhesus macaques absconded from Frank Buck's Long Island menagerie. Nearly a century later, 43 members of the same species broke out of a South Carolina research facility
How a Dead Seal Sparked Theodore Roosevelt's Lifelong Passion for Conservation
As a child, the future president acquired a marine animal's skull, which became the first specimen in his natural history collection
Busting 13 of the Smithsonian’s Most Persistent Myths
From castle hauntings to hiding evidence of giant humans, the Smithsonian has long been the subject of wild rumors and tall tales
Miniature Fabergé Animals That Enchanted the Romanovs and Other Royals Are Up for Sale
Crafted around 1900, the charismatic carvings were inspired by Japanese decorative pendants
At 200 Years Old, the London National Gallery Is Redefining What It Means to Be a 'National' Museum
Despite its decidedly traditional art collection, the British cultural institution is adopting a contemporary approach to public outreach and accessibility
One of the World's Oldest Surviving Books Is for Sale
The rare early Christian text was written in a monastery in Egypt between 250 and 350 C.E.
Why a 1-Cent Postage Stamp Could Sell for $5 Million
If predictions are accurate, the sale would be the highest ever for an American postage mark
How Cabinets of Curiosities Laid the Foundation for Modern Museums
An exhibition at LACMA examines the legacy of Dutch colonization through a fictive 17th-century collector's room of wonders
Why Collectors Fall Head Over Heels for the 'Inverted Jenny' Stamp
One of the rare 24-cent misprints sold at auction this week for a record-breaking $2 million
Only Ten Babe Ruth Rookie Baseball Cards Survive. Now, One Is Going Up for Auction
Bidding starts at $2.5 million, but the auction house expects the 1914 collectible to sell for much more—and possibly break memorabilia records
This California Museum Is Home to Hundreds of Nature's Scents
Perfumer Mandy Aftel's spellbinding collection of rare essences and artifacts is on display at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in Berkeley
How an Orca Skeleton Made Its Way From Florida to the Smithsonian
Washed up in a rare stranding event, the newly collected specimen will offer rich exploration for researchers
Trove of Rare Renaissance Books Could Fetch $25 Million at Auction
T. Kimball Brooker has amassed a collection of more than 1,300 texts from the 16th century
Humans Take Out More Wild Species Than Any Other Predator on Earth
We kill, collect or otherwise use about 15,000 vertebrate species
You Could Own Nathaniel Hawthorne's Handwritten Notes on 'The Scarlet Letter'
Enjoy an exclusive preview of an auction of the novelist's papers, which feature rarely seen edits and atrocious penmanship
Heirs of Jewish Art Dealers Move Forward With Yearslong Restitution Battle
For over a decade, they've argued that their ancestors were forced to sell valuable artifacts. Now, they're back in court with a new legal strategy
230 Rare Classic Cars Are Going Up for Auction in the Netherlands
Stored for 40 years in two warehouses and an abandoned church, the valuable vehicles include a variety of European and American makes and models
The Time Thief Who Stole 106 Rare Clocks in a Daring Heist
Authorities eventually recovered 96 of the lost timepieces, including a $30 million watch commissioned for Marie Antoinette
The Art Market Is Rebounding—but Only at the Top
Sales increased in 2022, but growth was concentrated largely at the high end of the market
Take a Peek Inside the Candy Wrapper Museum
Your trash is my treasure—and a sweet reminder of the past
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