Museum of Science, Boston, Gift Shop

The online Gift Shop at the Museum of Science in Boston has all the usual science books, games and toys. As always, I've had a dig around to see if there is anything unusual or interesting.

Their Unique Gifts section is very small but does include a set of salt and pepper shakers shaped like computer keyboard keys with letters S and P. There is also an Eco-conscious Gifts section, again rather small but the T-shirts look attractive. Indeed worth looking around as the cross-linkage of items across categories is very poor, so that those eco T-shirts do not appear in the apparel category, also the futuristic MoS coffee mug is in Souvenirs but not in Drinkware!

For being such a big museum, their online shop is disappointing. But T-shirts and drinking mugs do look nice, but as I said, have a look around as things are not always in the obvious place.

American Museum of Natural History Museum Shop

The online shop of the American Museum of Natural History has a wealth of original gifts, from just a few bucks up to many thousands of dollars. An Alisa Peacock Navajo Wool Rug will set you back $10,000 and yet an attractive black AMNH mug can be had for just $12.95.

Apart from the usual stock of science and natural history educational materials and toys, the American Museum of Natural History is very good at creating decorative gifts and apparel linked to both their temporary and permanent exhibitions. As of writing they have specific sections on Butterflies, The Horse and Space. A silk T. Rex Skeleton Tie at $52 is on the tasteful side of novelty ties.

Worth checking out as new exhibitions appear.

Royal Society of Chemistry

The Royal Society of Chemistry has a small online shop, mainly selling books, as well as journals and subscriptions.

I think the two most interesting and unusual books are the Chemistry and Biology of Winemaking and Kitchen Chemistry.

"Someone once said that 'wine is a mixture of chemistry, biology and psychology'. It has certainly fascinated people over the centuries and without a doubt been enjoyed by many. Indeed, from its serendipitous roots as an attempt to store fruit, wine has been woven into the fabric of society; from its use in religion to today's sophisticated products sampled over a meal."

Sadly, not really very much as yet in the games section and general cultural artefacts, however there is a 550-piece Visual Elements Jigsaw puzzle.

The RSC also has an extensive Image Library that you can browse online and order reproductions, but there are no prices so this has to be done by request or just pop in to Burlington House.

The Linnean Society of London

The Linnean Society has a very small online shop. You can order the society's publications but the most unusual objects are a Tercentenary Wedgwood Medallion and Bronze Medal. The Bronze Medal is in a limited edition of only 300 and, last I looked, still seem to be available.

The portrait medallion of Linnaeus is one of several variants of the famous Wedgwood profile. It was originally made in 1775 by the English sculptor John Flaxman (1775-1826), and derives from one of the wax portraits of 1773 by C.F. Inlander. I think the medallion makes an original present for the botanist, zoologist and general natural historian.