Why Don't You

New York Public Library

I had a different post scheduled for this morning, but I had a ‘stop the presses’ moment when I saw this post from design*sponge pop up in my reader. HOLY JACKPOT!! If you thought Vintage Printables was good, you are going to die when you see the New York Public Library Digital Gallery. There are…

I had a different post scheduled for this morning, but I had a ‘stop the presses’ moment when I saw this post from design*sponge pop up in my reader.

HOLY JACKPOT!!

If you thought Vintage Printables was good, you are going to die when you see the New York Public Library Digital Gallery. There are all sorts of beautiful images just begging to be printed off and framed.

I’m strangely obsessed with floor plans. I would love to frame a series of these NYC pre-war building floor plans.

These pages from the Builder’s Pocket Book are AMAZING.

Check out this amazing cabinet maker’s guide

A cute little bird to add to a gallery wall

I love the colors in this fish print.

Cool engravings of objects in the Empire style

And of course, more botanical prints than you could ever wish to hang.

These floral prints would be wonderful inspiration for a bedroom

I would use the bottom orange portion of this page

And what an amazing series this set would make

Love this floral

and this one

wow, so pretty

{I’m assuming since there is a ‘print’ button on all these pages, that the images are copyright-free. Please note that there is also an option to purchase the prints, if you want them in larger sizes.}

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56 thoughts on “New York Public Library

  1. Thank you so much for sharing! I love the sweet little bird, & the botanical prints too!

    I see that I'm the second one to ask this question, but…do you just print these out at home? I might take them to Kinko's or some other store like that to get a nice print made :) I don't know that my printer would do these beauties justice! ♥

  2. Are you freakin' kidding me? THIS IS AMAZING!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Thank you so much for illuminating my life!

  3. To answer the questions about printing, I've had success using photo paper or good quality pure white cardstock (both available at Target or Walmart). That said, I'm always happiest with the prints I take to Kinko's or my local print shop.

    Hope that helps!

  4. Unfortunately, they aren't free, the prints from the NYPL site. I just tried a couple and each is $30. Just an FYI for everyone.

  5. Hi Nancy,

    I just meant that it is free to download and print out the images yourself. The professional prints that they ship to you are definitely not free.

    j

  6. Little Green, are you KIDDING me?! This is awesome. I mean, really, awesome. I am dying to print off about nine of those images and immediately redesign my wall decor… for free. Those botanical prints are so pretty. I'm itching to go search for pretty prints with shades of olive and avocado and kelly with which I will cover my walls. Have I gushed enough? Thanks for the tip!

  7. Thanks for sharing this find! I too LOVE floor plans – must be that I wish I had followed my heart and studied architecture but instead went into pre-medicine and then education. Go figure!

    I am loving your sense of style, it is rubbing off on me. I usually love black and white but am actually considering splurging on some chiang mai fabric! Yikes! So out of my comfort zone!

  8. HOLY JACKPOT is exactly right! I saw that post this morning and couldn't wait to get home tonight to peruse the virtual stacks and post the very same thing on my blog! Love it.

  9. What a great post! Those are fantastic! I'm in love with the floor plans and the orange/flower one. Kinkos won't know what hit them when I come through the door! Thank you thank you!

  10. I love them all – they are fabulous! I love house-related art! It's kind of ironic but awesome all the more. I love that website but don't have a good printer on hand. I should figure out how to get stuff printed to save myself money on art.

  11. What a resource! It appears you are allowed to print them for personal use. HOWEVER, they are not copyright free. In order to use them for anything else–things you make to sell, anything for profit, books, papers, etc, you must obtain permission. You don't necessarily have to buy a print from them, but you have to have permission to use the image. (And you can get a higher res copy). http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-york-public-library.html
    Also check out the libraries terms of use.

    Not trying to be a downer, but I don't want anyone to get in trouble.

    Like I said, though, it looks like you can use their print function for personal use.

    Thank you VERY much for the link!

  12. Thanks for the clarification. I didn't realize downloading is free. Duh. That's pretty awesome!

  13. What a wonderful resource, thank you for the info! You could easily buy an inexpensive frame, get an artshop to make you custom matting (cheap!) to fit your frame, and then make sure to make the window in the matting smaller than a printable page and print the pics at home!!

  14. Jenny, you rock! I was just scouring through Vintage Printable last night looking for some cool architectural-type prints and was SO disappointed when I didn't really turn up anything. Then, this morning, voila! You saved the day!!

  15. What a wonderful find! Thank you for sharing. I know what I'll be doing Sunday afternoon:) Have a great weekend!

  16. Thanks so much for giving me another place to waste a few hours of the company's time! Know what I'll be doing tomorrow afternoon…Love that orange floral print on the btm of that page. EXCELLENT resource!

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