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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:52 am |
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1st Post |
OnePotato
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Here is....
Le Scarabée d'Or - Oracle Des Salons
or
The Golden Beetle Oracle
French, circa 1860's
Hand colored lithographyAttachment: 1GBO.jpg (Downloaded 127 times)
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:53 am |
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2nd Post |
OnePotato
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When you shake it, and hold it upright, the Golden Beetle appears in a little glass window.
His long nose points to a number on the wheel.
Attachment: 2aGBO.jpg (Downloaded 125 times)
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:54 am |
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3rd Post |
OnePotato
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You may then open the box, to reveal a numbered set of 30 round cards, each with a fortune penned in beautiful calligraphy. Attachment: 3GBO.jpg (Downloaded 122 times)
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:54 am |
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4th Post |
OnePotato
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Find your numbered card... Attachment: 5GBO.jpg (Downloaded 121 times)
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:55 am |
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5th Post |
OnePotato
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....and see what the Golden Beetle reveals! Attachment: 4GBO.jpg (Downloaded 122 times)
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 04:58 am |
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6th Post |
debra
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This is just too strange for words!
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 07:04 am |
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7th Post |
goldenweb
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Oh it's wonderful, OnePotato! It's almost a tiny potted version of the Renaissance books of fortune. Thanks for posting all the lovely pics.
Pen
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Posted: Fri May 21st, 2010 03:16 pm |
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8th Post |
Sebille
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That is so cool! I've never seen anything like it. Love it, thanks for sharing! :)
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Posted: Sat May 22nd, 2010 05:11 am |
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9th Post |
OnePotato
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Thanks guys. I love this one too.
I don't see what more you could ask for in an insect-based fortune telling device!

Debra sent me a link to this movie,
so as an added bonus, have a look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1F-CEwB58c&fmt=18
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Posted: Tue May 25th, 2010 10:37 am |
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10th Post |
Posted: Sat May 29th, 2010 02:35 am |
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11th Post |
Tarot Orat
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This is amazing! I'm a beetle nut (specializing in lady beetles, but scarabs are way cool) and I've never seen anything like this. Wow, what a great find!
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Posted: Tue Jun 29th, 2010 11:49 pm |
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12th Post |
hoo
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Tarot Orat - Have you ever run across the remark by british scientist J.B.S. Haldane ? He is reputed to have said that if there is a God then he must have "an inordinate fondness for beatles" (because they comprise 20% of all species on earth).
OnePotato- That makes this as close to a bona fide sacred artifact as I've ever seen ! Where on earth could it have come from ?
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