Giant Tree Family Album, pt 1 of 2. General Sherman’s Baby Picture

General Sherman (tree)


General Sherman is a giant sequoia tree located in Sequoia National Park in California. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth. This rare picture of the tree, taken when it was a sapling, is part of a collection of pictures known as the “Giant Tree Family Album.” The album includes pictures of both Sequoias and Redwoods.

In this picture, the tree that would one day become known as General Sherman is shown as an awkward youth. It would ba many dozens of decades before the tree would reach its full stature and the fame as the world’s largest tree.

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Lost Treasure Painting

Framed painting in purple hues with a golden frame and matching floral inset device

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1820, Peru was campaigning for its independance from Spain, and the situation in the city of Lima became desperate, and the city was evacuated.The city’s leadership decided to protect the city’s treasures and send them to Mexico for safekeeping. Priceless stones and art valued at millions of dollars was packaged and secured on a ship under the command of Captain William Thompson.

The riches were far too tempting to the crew, and they decided to steal the bounty. They killed all the passengers accompanying the treasure to its safe hiding spot, and the pirates took the treasure to an island off the coast of Costa Rica, where they buried it, planning to return at a later date.

The crew was captured by the Spanish, where all but two of the crew, were convicted of piracy and hanged. The two remaining sailors, Captain Thompson and his first mate, agreed to lead the Spanish to the stolen treasure in exchange for their lives.

When they arrived at the island, the two men managed to escape, and were never seen again.The treasure was never found.

In 1870, a man claiming to be the son of Captain Thompson brought this painting to the SHUSH Museum. He claimed that the painting and the inset item were the keys to decoding a very complicated puzzle that would lead to the location of the treasure. On the back of the painting is a cypher which has never been decrypted, It is thought that the building in the picture represents an important landmark on the island, or perhaps the true key in question is the inset floral decoration inset below the image, Numerous expeditions have been undertaken by the members of SHUSH, but, to date, nothing has been discovered.

Buy a postcard of the Lost Treasure Painting in the gift shop! Save 15% by using the code STPADDYPARTY.

Alfred Nobel’s Postbox

Alfred Nobel's Postbox The inventor of dynamite and the founder of the Nobel prizes, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) was the holder of over 300 patents. During his lifetime, he wrote hundreds of letters to friends and associates. Through letters with friends, he came to the decision to include a peace prize among those prizes provided in his will. Most of his letters are held within the Nobel Institute in Stockholm, however, his postbox was left in the care of the SHUSH Museum.

As is typical of postboxes from Sweden, there’s the Germanic posthorn, as well as the royal emblem of the Swedish crown.

Spoons from the Last Supper

Spoons from the Last Supper. 13 spoons, hanging on a wall

The story of The Last Supper is well-known. As Jesus entered the Jerusalem, he sent his disciples to find a man carrying a jar of water, and that man would take them to a house where they would spend the Passover. When they arrived at the house, all was prepared at the table for the meal.

This would include the utensils for the soup served as the first course. While most of the meal would be eaten with the hands alone, soup is more challenging to consume with hands alone. After the dinner, the group went to the Mount of Olives where Jesus would be arrested.

The spoons were collected by the house servants, and upon hearing that the teacher that had been their guest of honor the previous evening had been arrested, the spoons were separated from the normal household goods. Within a few days, after the guest of honor had been convicted of crimes and executed, members of the house reported that those who held one of the spoons were filled with a sense of great peace and well-being.

As the notoriety of the teacher spread, stories emerged that the man had been raised from the dead, and that he had been seen by hundreds of people, who were telling the story of this miracle. And people would come to the place where this man had taken his Last Supper, and they would hold the spoons, and experience that miracle.

The legend of the Miracle of the Spoons persisted over the decades, and eventually the set was passed down within the family of those that hosted the Passover meal. Centuries passed, and the family’s descendants, no longer believing in the legend, and needing cash, sold the set to a member of SHUSH.

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Mysterious Sea Cucumber

Mysterious Sea Cucumber

This specimen of echinoderm was contributed to the SHUSH in 1843. Since that date, no other examples of the species have been discovered. Superficially, it resembles the species Thelenota ananas, but the coloration is unique.

This mystery of this specimen goes beyond its coloration. The “creature” shows no evidence of any biological structures. It has no mouth, and no anus. It also has no exoskeleton, and seems to be made of cheap plant fibers and lacking in connective tissues or skin that would be congruent with an animal life.form.

Many experts have questioned whether this object could actually be described as a “sea cucumber,”  as it lacks any of the characteristics of a sea cucumber, beyond the superficial resemblance to the marine animals.

Want to send a postcard with a Mysterious Sea Cucumber picture? Visit the SHUSH store!

Invisible Portait

Photo courtesy of http://crazyideaphotography.com/
In 1897, using specially formulated inks on a specially treated canvas, Herbert Griffin painted this famous self portrait. The portrait, painted in typical Victorian portrait style, shows the artist dressed in fine clothing, with an ermine edged, deep-blue smoking jacket. The subject is seated in an over-stuffed chair, and on his lap is a cat. In the background are several tall shelves, filled with books and a fireplace, with a cozy fire.

Historians say that the picture is aspirational in nature, as Griffin was not a wealthy man, but that he was consumed with achieving power. In life, he as known as a recluse, and neighbors found him unfriendly. This portrait shows Griffin as he wished to be seen.

Purchase a postcard of this exhibit here.

Popcorn Tree

The Popcorn Tree. A tree covered in white, fluffy flowers.
In 1898, botanist Hiram Englehardt successfully created the world’s only known Popcorn Tree. Despite many attempts, Englehardt was never able to create a second one using his controversial hybridization techniques. Many others have attempted to follow in his footsteps, but to date, no one has been successful.

The tree, standing on the grounds of the grounds of the SHUSH Museum, produces 1.5 bushels (90 pounds) of popcorn annually. The corn is suitable for popping, and is served exclusively for members at special events held on the Museum grounds.

There are some who would identify this tree as a Dogwood tree, and indeed, the main root stock was taken from a variety of Dogwood, and the popcorn, which resembles the berries of the Dogwood tree, develops over the winter, in the same fashion as Dogwood berries.

Map to Kukuanaland

Map to Kukuanaland. A torn piece of linen covered with rust colorad writing and a rough map

In 1590, a Portuguese man by the name of Jose da Silvestra, created a map on a piece of linen, and gave it to a servant who took it from his dying hands, in an obscure place in Africa. The servant took the linen, and delivered it to Silvestra’s family.  Three hundred years later, one of Silvestra’s descendants attempted to follow the map to its destination: the long lost Mines of King Solomon.

This map was later entrusted to Allan Quartermain to assist him in leading an expedition to rescue a lost brother, who  had disappeared while attempting to locate the vast riches promised by the mines.

The map, when translated into English, reads as follows “I, José da Silvestra, who am now dying of hunger in the little cave where no snow is on the north side of the nipple of the southernmost of the two mountains I have named Sheba’s Breasts, write this in the year 1590 with a cleft bone upon a remnant of my raiment, my blood being the ink. If my slave should find it when he comes, and should bring it to Delagoa, let my friend (name illegible) bring the matter to the knowledge of the king, that he may send an army which, if they live through the desert and the mountains, and can overcome the brave Kukuanes and their devilish arts, to which end many priests should be brought, will make him the richest king since Solomon. With my own eyes have I seen the countless diamonds stored in Solomon’s treasure chamber behind the white Death; but through the treachery of Gagool the witch-finder I might bring nought away, scarcely my life. Let him who comes follow the map, and climb the snow of Sheba’s left breast till he reaches the nipple, on the north side of which is the great road Solomon made, from whence three days’ journey to the King’s Palace. Let him kill Gagool. Pray for my soul. Farewell.

José da Silvestra.”

Various tests have agreed that the item is created on linen, but, have not been conclusive on the age of the artifact, nor on the substance of the ink. The item was entrusted to a prominent member of the Society, and it is with the permission of the member’s family that the item is now on display.  They will neither confirm or deny the continued existence of a place called “Kukuanaland,” nor the existence of a vast treasure in diamonds.

Signed Cuneiform Tablet of King Hammurabi (1810 BC -1750 BC)

Small tablet with relief profile of King Hammurabi with cuneiform signature This artifact, part of a series of cuneiform tablets produced near the end of the Sumerian civilization, depicts King Hammurabi, known primarily for his written code of laws, which defined specific punishments for specific crimes.

The code was one of the first that began with the assumption that the accused was innocent of the crime until evidence was presented and a verdict pronounced. A verdict of “guilty” would result in the specific punishment defined in the code.

This tablet was produced by the Sumerian Collectibles Company. Records are incomplete, however,  based upon the tablets that have survived, it is estimated that were 15 subjects produced. Subjects included rulers, warriors, deities and popular entertainers.

These items were produced for the wealthy elite, and are among the first items in recorded history specifically created to be collected. Often hand-numbered as a series, these items would have been displayed as marks of status.

This example, produced between 1785-1750 BC, is especially fine, as it bears the personal seal of the King himself.  The seal could only be used by the King himself, therefore this particular item is, in a sense, autographed. No other surviving examples have such a mark, so it is unclear how many were produced as “sealed” versions, but undoubtedly that number is small. This “signature” would naturally raise the value of the collectible immensely.

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