Whales' Bones of the World

This project began back in 1974 as an innocent interest focusing specifically on the curious and unusual things that people did with the big bones of the big whales. In seven volumes, it records practical and decorative uses to which the huge skulls, jawbones, shoulder blades, vertebrae and ribs of the blue, sei, fin, right, minke and sperm whales have been put around the world, from early times to the present day, including skeletons displayed in museums. Other than personal site visits for most entries listed, the author has taken information from antiquarian and historical accounts, the journals of learned societies, engravings, paintings, drawings and photographs, newspapers, letters, diaries, directories, books, poems; and the recollections, memories and records of many individuals.