Aaron T. Pratt
@aarontpratt.bsky.social
Pforzheimer Curator of Early Books & Manuscripts at the Harry Ransom Center. Bibliographer, book historian, and VHS guy.
Ben's not wrong.
The most exciting #BookHistory talk of the season is coming up next week!
Join us @ransomcenter.bsky.social or online as Ann Blair delivers the 2026 Pforzheimer lecture. This talk has Erasmus, Gessner, and volumes both large &small!
Learn more: www.eventbrite.com/e/pforzheime...
#booksky 🗃️📜📚
Join us @ransomcenter.bsky.social or online as Ann Blair delivers the 2026 Pforzheimer lecture. This talk has Erasmus, Gessner, and volumes both large &small!
Learn more: www.eventbrite.com/e/pforzheime...
#booksky 🗃️📜📚
January 15, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Ben's not wrong.
Tomorrow’s the first day of my grad seminar for @utaustin.bsky.social English, How to Read an Old Book, 1450–1830.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
January 15, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Tomorrow’s the first day of my grad seminar for @utaustin.bsky.social English, How to Read an Old Book, 1450–1830.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
For the first time ever, @ransomcenter.bsky.social host @rarebookschool.bsky.social courses this summer, June 7–12:
L-165: Literary Manuscripts w/ Stephen Enniss & Megan Barnard (this will be excellent)
G-60: Evidence in Handpress-Era Books, 1450–1830 w/ yours truly
rarebookschool.org/schedule/
L-165: Literary Manuscripts w/ Stephen Enniss & Megan Barnard (this will be excellent)
G-60: Evidence in Handpress-Era Books, 1450–1830 w/ yours truly
rarebookschool.org/schedule/
Schedules | Rare Book School
rarebookschool.org
January 6, 2026 at 11:17 PM
For the first time ever, @ransomcenter.bsky.social host @rarebookschool.bsky.social courses this summer, June 7–12:
L-165: Literary Manuscripts w/ Stephen Enniss & Megan Barnard (this will be excellent)
G-60: Evidence in Handpress-Era Books, 1450–1830 w/ yours truly
rarebookschool.org/schedule/
L-165: Literary Manuscripts w/ Stephen Enniss & Megan Barnard (this will be excellent)
G-60: Evidence in Handpress-Era Books, 1450–1830 w/ yours truly
rarebookschool.org/schedule/
In this article rebooting the @ransomcenter.bsky.social's series on Not Even Past, @utaustin.bsky.social English Ph.D. student Kōan Brink writes about a surprising find in the gutters of a new acquisition: "The Chopped-Up Second Life of a Coverdale Bible."
notevenpast.org/primary-sour...
notevenpast.org/primary-sour...
Primary Source: The Chopped-Up Second Life of a Coverdale Bible - Not Even Past
This and other articles in Primary Source: History from the Ransom Center Stacks represent an ongoing partnership between Not Even Past and the Harry Ransom Center, a world-renowned humanities researc...
notevenpast.org
October 21, 2025 at 10:19 PM
In this article rebooting the @ransomcenter.bsky.social's series on Not Even Past, @utaustin.bsky.social English Ph.D. student Kōan Brink writes about a surprising find in the gutters of a new acquisition: "The Chopped-Up Second Life of a Coverdale Bible."
notevenpast.org/primary-sour...
notevenpast.org/primary-sour...
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
a tiny bit of good news is that we have secured funding to digitize john milton's copy of holinshed's CHRONICLES (1587).
the images will form part of MILTON'S LIBRARY, an open-access site featuring the 10 books positively identified as milton's w/ transcriptions/translations of his marginal notes.
the images will form part of MILTON'S LIBRARY, an open-access site featuring the 10 books positively identified as milton's w/ transcriptions/translations of his marginal notes.
![A close-up image of a handwritten note in a sixteenth-century book. The note reads: 'Spenser repor / teth otherwise / [o]f this Knight / [D]ialogue of Ire- / [la]nd / [p]. 76.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:glqdunvigi5zxowf6heik65g/bafkreigi4rz7omz3cell5pa7hlyceoxd4fxsjy2ynmcd37fozanjejhsry@jpeg)
October 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
a tiny bit of good news is that we have secured funding to digitize john milton's copy of holinshed's CHRONICLES (1587).
the images will form part of MILTON'S LIBRARY, an open-access site featuring the 10 books positively identified as milton's w/ transcriptions/translations of his marginal notes.
the images will form part of MILTON'S LIBRARY, an open-access site featuring the 10 books positively identified as milton's w/ transcriptions/translations of his marginal notes.
New Gutenberg Bible opening @ransomcenter.bsky.social. Partytime excellent.
September 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
New Gutenberg Bible opening @ransomcenter.bsky.social. Partytime excellent.
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
Inca society kept records by encoding information into knotted cords called khipu. A new analysis of hair woven into these cords suggests this record-keeping was practiced by commoners as well as elites.
A lock of hair may have just changed what we know about life in the Incan Empire
Inca society kept records by encoding information into knotted cords called khipu. A new analysis of hair woven into these cords suggests this record-keeping was practiced by commoners as well as elites.
n.pr
August 15, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Inca society kept records by encoding information into knotted cords called khipu. A new analysis of hair woven into these cords suggests this record-keeping was practiced by commoners as well as elites.
Can’t escape DesBib:
August 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Can’t escape DesBib:
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
As far as I know (and please correct me if I’m wrong!) the only pulp paperback to have been printed with fuzzy textured elements on the cover. #DailyPaperback
August 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
As far as I know (and please correct me if I’m wrong!) the only pulp paperback to have been printed with fuzzy textured elements on the cover. #DailyPaperback
Essential viewing.
Rare Book School has posted a lecture by Paul Needham on his most recent work on the Catholicon Press: youtu.be/o4aMEB38slw?... Paul is in good form and his presentation of the evidence is clear, whether you're on board with the theory or not.
#bookhistory
#bookhistory
"The Catholicon Press Revisited: The Evidence of Nailheads"
YouTube video by Rare Book School
youtu.be
August 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Essential viewing.
On my way back to Austin and @ransomcenter.bsky.social after running a seminar on descriptive bibliography @calrbs.bsky.social.
Books were collated. Formats were determined—and in some cases deemed undeterminable.
Join me next year!
Books were collated. Formats were determined—and in some cases deemed undeterminable.
Join me next year!
August 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On my way back to Austin and @ransomcenter.bsky.social after running a seminar on descriptive bibliography @calrbs.bsky.social.
Books were collated. Formats were determined—and in some cases deemed undeterminable.
Join me next year!
Books were collated. Formats were determined—and in some cases deemed undeterminable.
Join me next year!
The print-run of my 2025 @calrbs.bsky.social Descriptive Bibliography syllabus is done, with all copies stab-stitched and ready to go.
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
July 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The print-run of my 2025 @calrbs.bsky.social Descriptive Bibliography syllabus is done, with all copies stab-stitched and ready to go.
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
Well that’s a book to keep an eye out for at auction.
“To Jeff — You are the greatest!” reads an inscription in a copy of Mr. Trump’s book “Trump: The Art of the Comeback” that belonged to Mr. Epstein
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/u...
July 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Well that’s a book to keep an eye out for at auction.
As the submission deadline approaches, if anyone who hopes to go to RSA this coming year in San Francisco has a bookish panel they've put together that's in search of a sponsor guaranteeing acceptance, please let me know. Same if you'd like to whip together a panel in the next couple of weeks.
July 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
As the submission deadline approaches, if anyone who hopes to go to RSA this coming year in San Francisco has a bookish panel they've put together that's in search of a sponsor guaranteeing acceptance, please let me know. Same if you'd like to whip together a panel in the next couple of weeks.
Sorta awake (since 3:00), which is both a win and a loss. Beginning my plane, train, and automobile trip to New Haven for RBMS (and, most importantly, some quality Beinecke time). Hope to see some of you there.
June 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Sorta awake (since 3:00), which is both a win and a loss. Beginning my plane, train, and automobile trip to New Haven for RBMS (and, most importantly, some quality Beinecke time). Hope to see some of you there.
Just changed the opening in the Gutenberg Bible @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
June 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Just changed the opening in the Gutenberg Bible @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
Now is the time to get to know still life artist Clara Peeters, as her only known self-portrait comes to auction! To do so, check out our #IlluminatingWomenArtists series monograph on #ClaraPeeters by Alejandro Vergara-Sharp: www.lundhumphries.com/collections/...
news.artnet.com/market/clara...
news.artnet.com/market/clara...
Only Known Self-Portrait by Clara Peeters Comes to Auction
The only self-portrait by Clara Peeters may smash the 17th-century Flemish still life painter's auction record next month at Sotheby's London
news.artnet.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Now is the time to get to know still life artist Clara Peeters, as her only known self-portrait comes to auction! To do so, check out our #IlluminatingWomenArtists series monograph on #ClaraPeeters by Alejandro Vergara-Sharp: www.lundhumphries.com/collections/...
news.artnet.com/market/clara...
news.artnet.com/market/clara...
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
We’ve acquired a remarkable group of rare medieval manuscripts that reveal new insights into life in Britain & Ireland during the Middle Ages – from religious dialogue to daily urban life.
Items include…
Items include…
June 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
We’ve acquired a remarkable group of rare medieval manuscripts that reveal new insights into life in Britain & Ireland during the Middle Ages – from religious dialogue to daily urban life.
Items include…
Items include…
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
At long last, “A24’s Academic Style; or, Coming of Age in an Era of Student Debt” is now out with @jcmsjournal.bsky.social
quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
June 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
At long last, “A24’s Academic Style; or, Coming of Age in an Era of Student Debt” is now out with @jcmsjournal.bsky.social
quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
Been thinkin’ about Egyptian obelisks in Rome. #allegyptallthetime
June 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Been thinkin’ about Egyptian obelisks in Rome. #allegyptallthetime
I only wish the worst for LLM advocates and apologists.
May 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I only wish the worst for LLM advocates and apologists.
Reposted by Aaron T. Pratt
ICYMI: the #Shax2025 plenary papers are available online! Watch this year's three brilliant papers on the SAA Youtube channel, linked here and in our bio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mux...
May 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
ICYMI: the #Shax2025 plenary papers are available online! Watch this year's three brilliant papers on the SAA Youtube channel, linked here and in our bio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mux...
Love the semi-colon, but editors I have—especially for public-facing things like exhibition labels—almost always nuke them in favor of hard stops. Gotta trust people to figure ‘em out, re-normalize.
Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse.
May 18, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Love the semi-colon, but editors I have—especially for public-facing things like exhibition labels—almost always nuke them in favor of hard stops. Gotta trust people to figure ‘em out, re-normalize.
If you missed my sniffly @nvshakespeare.bsky.social talk on author attribution in early English playbooks—both print and manuscript!—last month, a recording is available online:
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
May 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
If you missed my sniffly @nvshakespeare.bsky.social talk on author attribution in early English playbooks—both print and manuscript!—last month, a recording is available online:
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
Hallelujah—a new beta version of the ESTC (English Short Title Catalogue) is now hosted by CERL:
datb.cerl.org/estc
datb.cerl.org/estc
English Short Title Catalogue
datb.cerl.org
May 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Hallelujah—a new beta version of the ESTC (English Short Title Catalogue) is now hosted by CERL:
datb.cerl.org/estc
datb.cerl.org/estc