Culture

For the first time in nearly 50 years, a rare piece of U.S. history has hit the market: founding father John Hancock’s former home is for sale. Located at 10 Marshall Street in Boston, the three-story, Georgian-style Ebenezer Hancock House is 5,748 square feet and sits on a half-acre. It was built by Hancock, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, in 1767, and still has its original hearth and some ceiling beams.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an auction house in possession of Jane Austen memorabilia must be in want of a (bibliophile) buyer. Such is the case for Sotheby’s New York, where the most valuable auction related to the British author will be held Oct. 15. The lot includes a handwritten letter, a rare copy of Emma, and first editions of all six novels in contemporary binding. 

Guinness World Records is celebrating 70 years by recognizing some of the quirkiest and most jaw-dropping achievements from over the decades — and asking the public to go for the institution’s unclaimed titles.

Eighteen-year-old Ella Woodland’s pet rats have a knack for artistic expression, and by guiding them to paint mini masterpieces, she’s helping their talents flourish. There’s a little something in this project for Woodland, too: She’s made around $2,600 to date selling the pieces online.

Bucket hats are all the rage at the moment, but 2,000 years ago, ancient Romans were also donning a version of this modern trend to shield their faces from the sun — and visitors to England’s Bolton museum will get to see just how similar they look. Only three of these historic hats have been found, and one has recently been restored and put on display.