Startling Lady of Gore
@postnatodepression.bsky.social
She/her. Lesbian. I post New Zealand ephemera and cool things I find on the Internet Archive. Not affiliated with Archives New Zealand or the National Library.
Gam zu l'tova.
Gam zu l'tova.
Pinned
Edward Carpenter's description of 'the extreme type' of lesbian. I've definitely dated this woman.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
January 29, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Edward Carpenter's description of 'the extreme type' of lesbian. I've definitely dated this woman.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
Memento mori pendant. Germany, ca. 1660.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Memento mori pendant. Germany, ca. 1660.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
Ivory chaplet, probably French, ca. 1530.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Ivory chaplet, probably French, ca. 1530.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
Badge, probably British, ca. 1960-1980.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Badge, probably British, ca. 1960-1980.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
"Edward Lear Aged 73 and a Half and His Cat Foss, Aged 16" Drawing by Edward Lear, 1885.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
January 29, 2026 at 12:55 AM
"Edward Lear Aged 73 and a Half and His Cat Foss, Aged 16" Drawing by Edward Lear, 1885.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
"Is it too fanciful to suppose that the centrosome [...] is the analogue of the radiating force in human courtship which so strangely sifts out and remoulds the elements of the lover's personality?"
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
January 29, 2026 at 12:37 AM
"Is it too fanciful to suppose that the centrosome [...] is the analogue of the radiating force in human courtship which so strangely sifts out and remoulds the elements of the lover's personality?"
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Let's remember Judith Collins for that time Danyl performed the Voight-Kampff test on her to prove it was actually her running her Twitter account.
January 28, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Let's remember Judith Collins for that time Danyl performed the Voight-Kampff test on her to prove it was actually her running her Twitter account.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Praying Judith was one of the all time greats on the list of "pathetically desperate moves in NZ politics", and for this I thank her I suppose
January 28, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Praying Judith was one of the all time greats on the list of "pathetically desperate moves in NZ politics", and for this I thank her I suppose
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
What I love about this deleted tweet is how unforced the error is, how opposing FGM is such a universal slam dunk and Crusher completely fucked it into the sun.
January 28, 2026 at 5:36 AM
What I love about this deleted tweet is how unforced the error is, how opposing FGM is such a universal slam dunk and Crusher completely fucked it into the sun.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
replying “my husband is samoan, so talofa” over and over. all time classic line
January 28, 2026 at 5:15 AM
replying “my husband is samoan, so talofa” over and over. all time classic line
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
But as the Minister of Finance told us, we shouldn't take unemployment personally. So is it working for the Crown accounts? Er no - the OBEGAL deficit forecast for 25/26 has increased at every update. Turns out that totally unfunded tax cuts can be quite expensive!
January 27, 2026 at 10:14 PM
But as the Minister of Finance told us, we shouldn't take unemployment personally. So is it working for the Crown accounts? Er no - the OBEGAL deficit forecast for 25/26 has increased at every update. Turns out that totally unfunded tax cuts can be quite expensive!
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
January 27, 2026 at 10:32 PM
wish booktube was around in the 19th century. BookWaxCylinder or whatever, i would be so hyped for the latest installment of Walt Whitman drama
January 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM
wish booktube was around in the 19th century. BookWaxCylinder or whatever, i would be so hyped for the latest installment of Walt Whitman drama
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
I read that "Why Gen Z doesn't like Harry Potter" article and trying to imagine someone writing 70 years ago a "Reasons Gen X are ignoring Biggles" article for the Times
January 27, 2026 at 8:16 AM
I read that "Why Gen Z doesn't like Harry Potter" article and trying to imagine someone writing 70 years ago a "Reasons Gen X are ignoring Biggles" article for the Times
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Actually, this is famously a thing you can do with eggs
January 27, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Actually, this is famously a thing you can do with eggs
Portrait of Ruta Raniera.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
January 27, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Portrait of Ruta Raniera.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Josiah Wedgwood's trial tray for jasperware, 1773.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
January 27, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Josiah Wedgwood's trial tray for jasperware, 1773.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
"SHE WON'T TALK! Will you?"
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
January 27, 2026 at 3:14 AM
"SHE WON'T TALK! Will you?"
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
"Closed for the Duration - Loose Talk Can Cost Lives"
Howard Scott for the British and American Ambulance Corps, 1942.
Ref E.597-2004, V & A Museum.
Howard Scott for the British and American Ambulance Corps, 1942.
Ref E.597-2004, V & A Museum.
January 27, 2026 at 3:08 AM
"Closed for the Duration - Loose Talk Can Cost Lives"
Howard Scott for the British and American Ambulance Corps, 1942.
Ref E.597-2004, V & A Museum.
Howard Scott for the British and American Ambulance Corps, 1942.
Ref E.597-2004, V & A Museum.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
RNZ: we are now regularly amplifying Peters using terms like “globalists” while refusing to critique him and promoting him as a strongman figure
RNZ: NZF is the choice for disenfranchised voters
We all see whats happening here, right?
RNZ: NZF is the choice for disenfranchised voters
We all see whats happening here, right?
this is ludicrously pro fascist framing by RNZ
like, they actually don’t need to give either the benefit of the doubt here OR the boosterism for Peters?? and yet???
like, they actually don’t need to give either the benefit of the doubt here OR the boosterism for Peters?? and yet???
Pessimistic voters look to Winston Peters to be the change candidate inside the coalition
January 26, 2026 at 8:49 PM
RNZ: we are now regularly amplifying Peters using terms like “globalists” while refusing to critique him and promoting him as a strongman figure
RNZ: NZF is the choice for disenfranchised voters
We all see whats happening here, right?
RNZ: NZF is the choice for disenfranchised voters
We all see whats happening here, right?
Darned my sock very cutely but on the wrong side, truly nobody has ever suffered as I suffer
January 26, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Darned my sock very cutely but on the wrong side, truly nobody has ever suffered as I suffer
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
earthside assistance
January 22, 2026 at 1:34 AM
earthside assistance
I got given some of my aunt’s yarn stash to use up and I would like everyone to appreciate what this colour is called
January 26, 2026 at 9:57 AM
I got given some of my aunt’s yarn stash to use up and I would like everyone to appreciate what this colour is called
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
me: wrapped, snug as a bug in a rug, effortlessly sliding down the upper tube
you: unwrapped, mutant, dead in the lower tube
you: unwrapped, mutant, dead in the lower tube
January 26, 2026 at 5:25 AM
me: wrapped, snug as a bug in a rug, effortlessly sliding down the upper tube
you: unwrapped, mutant, dead in the lower tube
you: unwrapped, mutant, dead in the lower tube