Ian Gadd
@iangadd.bsky.social
Bibliographer; book historian. Opinions are my own.
(Header image is cartoon by Stephen Collins: http://www.stephencollinsillustration.com/)
(Header image is cartoon by Stephen Collins: http://www.stephencollinsillustration.com/)
Reposted by Ian Gadd
New, and very interesting, #OpenAccess article on Early English Books Online:
Opening the black box of EEBO
academic.oup.com/dsh/advance-...
#History 🗃️
Opening the black box of EEBO
academic.oup.com/dsh/advance-...
#History 🗃️
Opening the black box of EEBO
Abstract. Digital archives that cover extended historical periods can create a misleading impression of comprehensiveness while in truth providing access t
academic.oup.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
New, and very interesting, #OpenAccess article on Early English Books Online:
Opening the black box of EEBO
academic.oup.com/dsh/advance-...
#History 🗃️
Opening the black box of EEBO
academic.oup.com/dsh/advance-...
#History 🗃️
Reposted by Ian Gadd
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
‘In focusing on the connection between print and preservation, we miss the culture of ephemeral texts that Gutenberg’s innovation unleashed.’
Adam Smyth on Gutenberg’s books
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Smyth on Gutenberg’s books
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Smyth · Slice It Up: Gutenberg’s Great Invention
Gutenberg remains unknowable: an implied but not a felt presence. This is true for all but a small number of 15th-...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
‘In focusing on the connection between print and preservation, we miss the culture of ephemeral texts that Gutenberg’s innovation unleashed.’
Adam Smyth on Gutenberg’s books
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Smyth on Gutenberg’s books
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Hey hey, it’s now official on Concordia UP’s website, 20% discount code KENNEDY2026 at CUP (CAN) or Chicago (USD, link in next post) for Illuminating Media: Transmitting the Renaissance in England, 1400-1550! concordia.ca/press/illumi...
November 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Hey hey, it’s now official on Concordia UP’s website, 20% discount code KENNEDY2026 at CUP (CAN) or Chicago (USD, link in next post) for Illuminating Media: Transmitting the Renaissance in England, 1400-1550! concordia.ca/press/illumi...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
🎄✨ BRLSI Christmas Market 2025! ✨🎄
📍16–18 Queen Sq, Bath
🗓️ 27 Nov–14 Dec / 🕒 Mon–Wed 10–4 / Thu–Sun 10–6
Discover unique gifts from rotating local makers in BRLSI’s beautiful Georgian building 🎁 Plus, craft your own Christmas bauble with @lovemakerscafe! 💫
👉 brlsi.org/xmas/
📍16–18 Queen Sq, Bath
🗓️ 27 Nov–14 Dec / 🕒 Mon–Wed 10–4 / Thu–Sun 10–6
Discover unique gifts from rotating local makers in BRLSI’s beautiful Georgian building 🎁 Plus, craft your own Christmas bauble with @lovemakerscafe! 💫
👉 brlsi.org/xmas/
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🎄✨ BRLSI Christmas Market 2025! ✨🎄
📍16–18 Queen Sq, Bath
🗓️ 27 Nov–14 Dec / 🕒 Mon–Wed 10–4 / Thu–Sun 10–6
Discover unique gifts from rotating local makers in BRLSI’s beautiful Georgian building 🎁 Plus, craft your own Christmas bauble with @lovemakerscafe! 💫
👉 brlsi.org/xmas/
📍16–18 Queen Sq, Bath
🗓️ 27 Nov–14 Dec / 🕒 Mon–Wed 10–4 / Thu–Sun 10–6
Discover unique gifts from rotating local makers in BRLSI’s beautiful Georgian building 🎁 Plus, craft your own Christmas bauble with @lovemakerscafe! 💫
👉 brlsi.org/xmas/
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Delighted to help make this happen! I studied Jann Haworth and Peter Blake’s Looking Glass School when I was an art student. Jann and I shared a friendship with Sir Ken Robinson and later we ended up working together on various experimental arts education projects. www.brlsi.org/whatson/jann...
Jann Haworth- My life with Sergeant Pepper!
Renowned pop artist Jann Haworth reflects on her extraordinary life & co-designing the "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" cover with Peter Blake!
www.brlsi.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Delighted to help make this happen! I studied Jann Haworth and Peter Blake’s Looking Glass School when I was an art student. Jann and I shared a friendship with Sir Ken Robinson and later we ended up working together on various experimental arts education projects. www.brlsi.org/whatson/jann...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Interested in #books and the history of #printing? Looking for something great to do this week? Explore historical objects –including the oldest letterpress book in #BRLSI collections in an #exhibition curated by #students from #BathSpaUni #MakingYourMark. #Bath #Somerset
November 11, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Interested in #books and the history of #printing? Looking for something great to do this week? Explore historical objects –including the oldest letterpress book in #BRLSI collections in an #exhibition curated by #students from #BathSpaUni #MakingYourMark. #Bath #Somerset
Reposted by Ian Gadd
🎨👕BRLSI’s Academy of Imagination Becky is thrilled to share the two winning designs of our T-shirt design competition.
A huge thank you to all participants! Keep an eye on the Academy of Imagination page for upcoming events! www.brlsi.org/aoi/
A huge thank you to all participants! Keep an eye on the Academy of Imagination page for upcoming events! www.brlsi.org/aoi/
November 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🎨👕BRLSI’s Academy of Imagination Becky is thrilled to share the two winning designs of our T-shirt design competition.
A huge thank you to all participants! Keep an eye on the Academy of Imagination page for upcoming events! www.brlsi.org/aoi/
A huge thank you to all participants! Keep an eye on the Academy of Imagination page for upcoming events! www.brlsi.org/aoi/
Reposted by Ian Gadd
AnaÏs Nin ran a treadle-press in the 40s and there's this wonderful quotation of hers I printed recently.
November 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
AnaÏs Nin ran a treadle-press in the 40s and there's this wonderful quotation of hers I printed recently.
Reposted by Ian Gadd
🐴 Black Beauty in Bath 📖
Discover how Anna Sewell’s life in Bath inspired Black Beauty. Join Dr Celia Brayfield to explore the story behind the beloved novel.
🗓 5 Nov 🕢 7:30–9pm📍 BRLSI & Zoom 💷 £3–£6
👉 brlsi.org/whatson/bl...
Discover how Anna Sewell’s life in Bath inspired Black Beauty. Join Dr Celia Brayfield to explore the story behind the beloved novel.
🗓 5 Nov 🕢 7:30–9pm📍 BRLSI & Zoom 💷 £3–£6
👉 brlsi.org/whatson/bl...
October 31, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🐴 Black Beauty in Bath 📖
Discover how Anna Sewell’s life in Bath inspired Black Beauty. Join Dr Celia Brayfield to explore the story behind the beloved novel.
🗓 5 Nov 🕢 7:30–9pm📍 BRLSI & Zoom 💷 £3–£6
👉 brlsi.org/whatson/bl...
Discover how Anna Sewell’s life in Bath inspired Black Beauty. Join Dr Celia Brayfield to explore the story behind the beloved novel.
🗓 5 Nov 🕢 7:30–9pm📍 BRLSI & Zoom 💷 £3–£6
👉 brlsi.org/whatson/bl...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Our latest Viewpoint article is out: 'Guilds and Companies in London, 1200–1700: Contexts and Comparisons' by @mpdavies.bsky.social.
A 🧵 on the insights provided by this article into the history and historiography of these key metropolitan institutions in the medieval and early modern periods.
A 🧵 on the insights provided by this article into the history and historiography of these key metropolitan institutions in the medieval and early modern periods.
Guilds and Companies in London, 1200–1700: Contexts and Comparisons
Published in The London Journal: A Review of Metropolitan Society Past and Present (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Our latest Viewpoint article is out: 'Guilds and Companies in London, 1200–1700: Contexts and Comparisons' by @mpdavies.bsky.social.
A 🧵 on the insights provided by this article into the history and historiography of these key metropolitan institutions in the medieval and early modern periods.
A 🧵 on the insights provided by this article into the history and historiography of these key metropolitan institutions in the medieval and early modern periods.
Reposted by Ian Gadd
📜Bath History Festival 2025 comes to BRLSI on Sat 1 Nov! A full day of talks uncovering Bath’s past, from Richard III to the secrets beneath Bath Abbey. ☕Tickets include lunch, tea & coffee.
www.brlsi.org/bathhi...
#BathHistoryFestival #BathHistory #HistoryTalks
www.brlsi.org/bathhi...
#BathHistoryFestival #BathHistory #HistoryTalks
October 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
📜Bath History Festival 2025 comes to BRLSI on Sat 1 Nov! A full day of talks uncovering Bath’s past, from Richard III to the secrets beneath Bath Abbey. ☕Tickets include lunch, tea & coffee.
www.brlsi.org/bathhi...
#BathHistoryFestival #BathHistory #HistoryTalks
www.brlsi.org/bathhi...
#BathHistoryFestival #BathHistory #HistoryTalks
Ahead of her BRLSI talk on 3 Nov 2025, we asked Professor Tracey Hill 5 questions about Renaissance London. Find out which historical Londoner she would choose to go for a walk with!
www.brlsi.org/celebr...
💭 Who would you take a walk with through Renaissance London?
#BRLSI #Renaissance
www.brlsi.org/celebr...
💭 Who would you take a walk with through Renaissance London?
#BRLSI #Renaissance
October 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Join Dr Tim Moore, @nationaltrust.org.uk curator, to hear the vibrant, often overlooked histories of people of colour in Georgian-era Bath
🎟️ www.brlsi.org/whatson/peop...
💡 Ahead of the talk, read our “Five Questions With…” interview: www.brlsi.org/dr-tim-moore...
#BlackHistoryMonth #GeorgianBath
🎟️ www.brlsi.org/whatson/peop...
💡 Ahead of the talk, read our “Five Questions With…” interview: www.brlsi.org/dr-tim-moore...
#BlackHistoryMonth #GeorgianBath
October 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Join Dr Tim Moore, @nationaltrust.org.uk curator, to hear the vibrant, often overlooked histories of people of colour in Georgian-era Bath
🎟️ www.brlsi.org/whatson/peop...
💡 Ahead of the talk, read our “Five Questions With…” interview: www.brlsi.org/dr-tim-moore...
#BlackHistoryMonth #GeorgianBath
🎟️ www.brlsi.org/whatson/peop...
💡 Ahead of the talk, read our “Five Questions With…” interview: www.brlsi.org/dr-tim-moore...
#BlackHistoryMonth #GeorgianBath
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Two BRLSI speakers have been nominated for the Wolfson History Prize! 🏆
📖 Dr Eleanor Barraclough – past talk on hidden lives of Viking Age women
🌍 Kieran Connell – upcoming talk on Britain’s multicultural history
#WolfsonPrize #HistoryMatters
📖 Dr Eleanor Barraclough – past talk on hidden lives of Viking Age women
🌍 Kieran Connell – upcoming talk on Britain’s multicultural history
#WolfsonPrize #HistoryMatters
October 1, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Two BRLSI speakers have been nominated for the Wolfson History Prize! 🏆
📖 Dr Eleanor Barraclough – past talk on hidden lives of Viking Age women
🌍 Kieran Connell – upcoming talk on Britain’s multicultural history
#WolfsonPrize #HistoryMatters
📖 Dr Eleanor Barraclough – past talk on hidden lives of Viking Age women
🌍 Kieran Connell – upcoming talk on Britain’s multicultural history
#WolfsonPrize #HistoryMatters
Reposted by Ian Gadd
📷A dolphin wrapped around an anchor - the logo by #Renaissance scholar #AldusManuitius, #BRLSIarchive.
This spirit of invention links Manutius to Gutenberg, whose revolutionary press is explored by Dr Kristian Jensen in Gutenberg & the European Invention of Printing
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
This spirit of invention links Manutius to Gutenberg, whose revolutionary press is explored by Dr Kristian Jensen in Gutenberg & the European Invention of Printing
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
October 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
📷A dolphin wrapped around an anchor - the logo by #Renaissance scholar #AldusManuitius, #BRLSIarchive.
This spirit of invention links Manutius to Gutenberg, whose revolutionary press is explored by Dr Kristian Jensen in Gutenberg & the European Invention of Printing
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
This spirit of invention links Manutius to Gutenberg, whose revolutionary press is explored by Dr Kristian Jensen in Gutenberg & the European Invention of Printing
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Printing presses kept their letters in cases.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
October 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Printing presses kept their letters in cases.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Reposted by Ian Gadd
GOOD NEWS !
"A team of musicologists has unearthed the printed score of a previously unknown Purcell song, as well as the original manuscript for various keyboard compositions."
#baroque #music
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...
"A team of musicologists has unearthed the printed score of a previously unknown Purcell song, as well as the original manuscript for various keyboard compositions."
#baroque #music
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...
‘Almost unheard of’: experts find more music by English composer Henry Purcell
Printed score and keyboard manuscript by Purcell, who died in 1695, unearthed in Worcestershire and Norfolk
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:23 AM
GOOD NEWS !
"A team of musicologists has unearthed the printed score of a previously unknown Purcell song, as well as the original manuscript for various keyboard compositions."
#baroque #music
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...
"A team of musicologists has unearthed the printed score of a previously unknown Purcell song, as well as the original manuscript for various keyboard compositions."
#baroque #music
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Reposted by Ian Gadd
A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.
Melvyn Bragg decides to step down from presenting In Our Time
After 26 years on the programme, the legendary presenter bids farewell to the series
www.bbc.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.
Reposted by Ian Gadd
“There, Sisyphus toils—straining to zero the inbox, only for Nathan to smite him with that cruelest of follow-ups: ‘Just checking if you saw this?’”
— Virgil, Aeneid
— Virgil, Aeneid
Sisyphus’s Inbox
“And I saw Sisyphus in agonizing torment, drafting a reply to Kayleigh’s ten urgent UX questions. He hit ‘send,’ and immediately received an autore...
buff.ly
August 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
“There, Sisyphus toils—straining to zero the inbox, only for Nathan to smite him with that cruelest of follow-ups: ‘Just checking if you saw this?’”
— Virgil, Aeneid
— Virgil, Aeneid
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Welcome to Day 2 of Swedish Church on a Skateboard!
It should arrive at 5pm Swedish time (GMT+2), greeted by a gospel choir.
Will be amazing to see how they get it off the skateboard.
Live feed here: lkab.com/kalender/kyr...
It should arrive at 5pm Swedish time (GMT+2), greeted by a gospel choir.
Will be amazing to see how they get it off the skateboard.
Live feed here: lkab.com/kalender/kyr...
August 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Welcome to Day 2 of Swedish Church on a Skateboard!
It should arrive at 5pm Swedish time (GMT+2), greeted by a gospel choir.
Will be amazing to see how they get it off the skateboard.
Live feed here: lkab.com/kalender/kyr...
It should arrive at 5pm Swedish time (GMT+2), greeted by a gospel choir.
Will be amazing to see how they get it off the skateboard.
Live feed here: lkab.com/kalender/kyr...
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Very exciting: the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography published a cluster of new entries on women stationers. See the intro by Valerie Wayne: www.oxforddnb.com/newsitem/906...
ODNB entries are so helpful in identifying women from traces on printed material. So happy to see this work ❤️
ODNB entries are so helpful in identifying women from traces on printed material. So happy to see this work ❤️
www.oxforddnb.com
August 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Very exciting: the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography published a cluster of new entries on women stationers. See the intro by Valerie Wayne: www.oxforddnb.com/newsitem/906...
ODNB entries are so helpful in identifying women from traces on printed material. So happy to see this work ❤️
ODNB entries are so helpful in identifying women from traces on printed material. So happy to see this work ❤️
Reposted by Ian Gadd
I love Terry Gross she is a top ten person
August 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I love Terry Gross she is a top ten person
Reposted by Ian Gadd
Oh no. Tom Lehrer gone. At his great age, it’s not a tragedy, I know, but it just does feel bad not having his genius in the world.
July 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Oh no. Tom Lehrer gone. At his great age, it’s not a tragedy, I know, but it just does feel bad not having his genius in the world.