Dr Sian Witherden
@sianwitherden.bsky.social
Early Printed Books Cataloguer at Exeter College Oxford. Medievalist, book historian, and bibliophile 📚
I’m really pleased that this blog post series is proving useful!
These "Teaching the Codex" blog posts introducing collation formulas from Dr. Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social
have particularly good illustrations that make it clear for students learning about it for the first time. 📜
teachingthecodex.com/author/teach...
have particularly good illustrations that make it clear for students learning about it for the first time. 📜
teachingthecodex.com/author/teach...
Teaching the Codex
Teaching the Codex is an interdisciplinary project on the teaching of palaeography and codicology.
teachingthecodex.com
October 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I’m really pleased that this blog post series is proving useful!
It was so exciting to be at the book launch for “Elizabeth Boleyn” tonight, and share in the joy with @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social — and there was a book cake too!
October 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM
It was so exciting to be at the book launch for “Elizabeth Boleyn” tonight, and share in the joy with @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social — and there was a book cake too!
It’s fantastic to finally see the beautiful East Window fully restored in @yorkminster.bsky.social !
October 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
It’s fantastic to finally see the beautiful East Window fully restored in @yorkminster.bsky.social !
Having a lovely time today learning about the Molyneux Globes @middletemple.bsky.social as part of their study day on “Middle Temple and the World”
October 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Having a lovely time today learning about the Molyneux Globes @middletemple.bsky.social as part of their study day on “Middle Temple and the World”
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Today was my last day as Special Collections Photographer at @stjohnsox.bsky.social. I am proud to say that I am responsible for most of the 100+ individual items now available on Digital Bodleian from SJC's special collections. You can view them all here: digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/partners/st-...
October 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Today was my last day as Special Collections Photographer at @stjohnsox.bsky.social. I am proud to say that I am responsible for most of the 100+ individual items now available on Digital Bodleian from SJC's special collections. You can view them all here: digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/partners/st-...
MLGB is such a valuable resource, and I'm thrilled to see it back online. I'm also excited that I will be contributing to the next phase. Starting in December, I will take on a new role as MLGB Project Researcher at the Bodleian, alongside my ongoing work at Exeter. Keep an eye out for updates!
MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:58 AM
MLGB is such a valuable resource, and I'm thrilled to see it back online. I'm also excited that I will be contributing to the next phase. Starting in December, I will take on a new role as MLGB Project Researcher at the Bodleian, alongside my ongoing work at Exeter. Keep an eye out for updates!
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Here is the final cover, with an endorsement from the wonderful Claire Martin, a dear friend and author of "Heirs of Ambition: The Making of the Boleyns". Claire's quote sums up how I hope people feel after reading the book: "Elizabeth Boleyn, so nice to finally meet you!"
September 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Here is the final cover, with an endorsement from the wonderful Claire Martin, a dear friend and author of "Heirs of Ambition: The Making of the Boleyns". Claire's quote sums up how I hope people feel after reading the book: "Elizabeth Boleyn, so nice to finally meet you!"
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Just sent to me by @sianwitherden.bsky.social who did some great work for me on this. So pleased to see this Jacobite roll so happily settled.
www.ilovelimerick.ie/rare-jacobit...
www.ilovelimerick.ie/rare-jacobit...
Rare Jacobite manuscript presented to the Limerick Museum
Rare Jacobite Manuscript Presented to the Limerick Museum. Dr Zara Power (Limerick Museum Assistant Curator), Dr Matthew Potter (Limerick Museum Curator), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Heavey Technology Limerick...
www.ilovelimerick.ie
September 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Just sent to me by @sianwitherden.bsky.social who did some great work for me on this. So pleased to see this Jacobite roll so happily settled.
www.ilovelimerick.ie/rare-jacobit...
www.ilovelimerick.ie/rare-jacobit...
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
A little while ago I was interviewed by the lovely Julian Morrow at ABC Radio about my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Publishing book ✨Book Curses✨, and it aired a few weekends ago!
The colourful language of book cursing - ABC listen
Books have always aroused strong emotions in people. So much so that book owners throughout history have written curses in the front of the book to deter their theft or damage. Some of them are funny ...
www.abc.net.au
September 1, 2025 at 9:45 AM
A little while ago I was interviewed by the lovely Julian Morrow at ABC Radio about my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Publishing book ✨Book Curses✨, and it aired a few weekends ago!
I’ve really enjoyed settling in to my new role as Early Printed Books Cataloguer this week @exeter.ox.ac.uk, there are exciting projects ahead!
August 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I’ve really enjoyed settling in to my new role as Early Printed Books Cataloguer this week @exeter.ox.ac.uk, there are exciting projects ahead!
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Now You See It...Now You DON'T!
Master magician Ricky Jay was a big fan of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which recently (and briefly) caught on fire! In honor of Ricky and the ephemerality of all good things, here I am showing off the Newberry's 18th c. Blow Book like Ricky once taught me.
1/2
Master magician Ricky Jay was a big fan of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which recently (and briefly) caught on fire! In honor of Ricky and the ephemerality of all good things, here I am showing off the Newberry's 18th c. Blow Book like Ricky once taught me.
1/2
July 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Now You See It...Now You DON'T!
Master magician Ricky Jay was a big fan of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which recently (and briefly) caught on fire! In honor of Ricky and the ephemerality of all good things, here I am showing off the Newberry's 18th c. Blow Book like Ricky once taught me.
1/2
Master magician Ricky Jay was a big fan of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which recently (and briefly) caught on fire! In honor of Ricky and the ephemerality of all good things, here I am showing off the Newberry's 18th c. Blow Book like Ricky once taught me.
1/2
☺️
I am indebted to Dr Claire Martin, @sylviabso.bsky.social , @melitat.bsky.social , @claireridgway.bsky.social and @sianwitherden.bsky.social for reading early drafts and offering advise, expertise, and endorsements. Without your encouragement and guidance, this book would not be what it is.
July 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
☺️
I’m so proud of Sophie for all of her hard work on this amazing project. It has been an absolute pleasure to see this book come into existence, and it was a privilege to read early drafts. The cover reveal is stunning!
Cover reveal 📖 I'm so excited to reveal the cover of my first book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother", which is due to be published on 23 October 2025! You can pre-order it here: thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/... (a 🧵)
July 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I’m so proud of Sophie for all of her hard work on this amazing project. It has been an absolute pleasure to see this book come into existence, and it was a privilege to read early drafts. The cover reveal is stunning!
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
If you'd like to read more about the medieval manuscript fragments in the St John's Library collection, check out this blog post by @sianwitherden.bsky.social: stjohnscollegelibraryoxford.org/2022/09/13/m...
Medieval Manuscript Fragments
Sian Witherden, Resource Description Librarian ‘Poirot!’ I cried. ‘This is a fragment of a will!’ […] My brain was in a whirl. What was this complication of a will? Who had destroyed it? The person…
stjohnscollegelibraryoxford.org
July 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
If you'd like to read more about the medieval manuscript fragments in the St John's Library collection, check out this blog post by @sianwitherden.bsky.social: stjohnscollegelibraryoxford.org/2022/09/13/m...
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
This seems to have resonated on here too (I cannot tell you how happy this makes me) so I'll add some of the reasoning:
I asked a lot of friends & family who are not academics (often not readers of non-fiction what they would do if they wanted to know more about a topic they were interested in).
🧵
I asked a lot of friends & family who are not academics (often not readers of non-fiction what they would do if they wanted to know more about a topic they were interested in).
🧵
A lot of people have mentioned they loved the 'Want to Know More?' section of my book – basically an annotated bibliography but with a clear statement on citation ethics (shout out to Sara Ahmed) and a focus on *accessible* scholarship.
That means blogs, podcasts, books for a popular audience.
🧵
That means blogs, podcasts, books for a popular audience.
🧵
July 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This seems to have resonated on here too (I cannot tell you how happy this makes me) so I'll add some of the reasoning:
I asked a lot of friends & family who are not academics (often not readers of non-fiction what they would do if they wanted to know more about a topic they were interested in).
🧵
I asked a lot of friends & family who are not academics (often not readers of non-fiction what they would do if they wanted to know more about a topic they were interested in).
🧵
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
This is really neat! And here’s a better link: pacscl.org/what-we-do/f...
July 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This is really neat! And here’s a better link: pacscl.org/what-we-do/f...
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
In 17c Netherlands you could enjoy drinking your cool beer from a ‘book’. Very nice blindstamped boards, raised bands, fore-edge ties. #Rijksmuseum #Bookart
July 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
In 17c Netherlands you could enjoy drinking your cool beer from a ‘book’. Very nice blindstamped boards, raised bands, fore-edge ties. #Rijksmuseum #Bookart
I really enjoyed writing this mini-series of blog posts on 'How to collate an early printed book' for
@teachingcodex.bsky.social, who have just migrated to Bluesky. Be sure to give them a follow!
teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla...
@teachingcodex.bsky.social, who have just migrated to Bluesky. Be sure to give them a follow!
teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla...
How to collate an early printed book
This mini series by Dr Sian Witherden (Rare books and manuscripts specialist) explains how to collate early printed books. These blog posts work through several practical examples from the Bodleian…
teachingthecodex.com
July 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I really enjoyed writing this mini-series of blog posts on 'How to collate an early printed book' for
@teachingcodex.bsky.social, who have just migrated to Bluesky. Be sure to give them a follow!
teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla...
@teachingcodex.bsky.social, who have just migrated to Bluesky. Be sure to give them a follow!
teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla...
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
We've brought Teaching the Codex over to Bluesky to celebrate our fantastic new series by @sianwitherden.bsky.social, 'How to collate an early printed book' (yes, we're adopting the new technology of moveable type).
Ever wished someone would sit down and explain how to collate an early printed book? The marvellous @sianwitherden.bsky.social has done exactly that in a brand new series for Teachable Features: teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla... #bookhistory #incunabula #teachingcodex
How to collate an early printed book
This mini series by Dr Sian Witherden (Rare books and manuscripts specialist) explains how to collate early printed books. These blog posts work through several practical examples from the Bodleian…
teachingthecodex.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM
We've brought Teaching the Codex over to Bluesky to celebrate our fantastic new series by @sianwitherden.bsky.social, 'How to collate an early printed book' (yes, we're adopting the new technology of moveable type).
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Hello Bluesky! We're an interdisciplinary project on the teaching of palaeography and codicology, and we're now branching out to include early printed books. Check out our website for lots of learning resources: teachingthecodex.com
Teaching the Codex
Pedagogical Approaches to Palaeography and Codicology
teachingthecodex.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Hello Bluesky! We're an interdisciplinary project on the teaching of palaeography and codicology, and we're now branching out to include early printed books. Check out our website for lots of learning resources: teachingthecodex.com
This was always one of my favourites when I was working at St John’s, it’s great to see it online!
The frontispiece of Roland of Lisbon’s Reductorium physiognomie (SJC MS 18) is available online! It was illustrated between 1425 and 1550 by William Abell, an English illuminator.
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/23ac...
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/23ac...
May 31, 2025 at 11:14 AM
This was always one of my favourites when I was working at St John’s, it’s great to see it online!
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Our next talk! Come along to hear Paul Nash on some of printing's earliest riddling questions.
May 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Our next talk! Come along to hear Paul Nash on some of printing's earliest riddling questions.
What connects Pisces to the feet? 🐟👣
My new blog post for @lampallib.bsky.social explores Zodiac Men diagrams, focusing on a 16th century printed book of hours currently on display in 'Unfolding Time'. This wonderful exhibition is free and open until May!
monumentoffame.org/2025/04/04/u...
My new blog post for @lampallib.bsky.social explores Zodiac Men diagrams, focusing on a 16th century printed book of hours currently on display in 'Unfolding Time'. This wonderful exhibition is free and open until May!
monumentoffame.org/2025/04/04/u...
![The Zodiac Man page in a book of hours printed by Wynkyn de
Worde (London, 1526). Lambeth Palace Library, [ZZ]1526.2, sig. B1v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:h6kqbpiiwflla6pi7qedhhm4/bafkreicunmpx6qfubitymeq4gpac6jpp6qkufdzkgpqnmlfdf3nibap4uy@jpeg)
April 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
What connects Pisces to the feet? 🐟👣
My new blog post for @lampallib.bsky.social explores Zodiac Men diagrams, focusing on a 16th century printed book of hours currently on display in 'Unfolding Time'. This wonderful exhibition is free and open until May!
monumentoffame.org/2025/04/04/u...
My new blog post for @lampallib.bsky.social explores Zodiac Men diagrams, focusing on a 16th century printed book of hours currently on display in 'Unfolding Time'. This wonderful exhibition is free and open until May!
monumentoffame.org/2025/04/04/u...
A thread about William Caxton, the quincentenary commemoration (1976), and a nice surprise in the post.
April 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A thread about William Caxton, the quincentenary commemoration (1976), and a nice surprise in the post.
Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden
Doing some fascinating research into an early Boleyn family member this week! More on this soon, but suffice to say that there is still so much to learn about the medieval Boleyns 👀
March 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Doing some fascinating research into an early Boleyn family member this week! More on this soon, but suffice to say that there is still so much to learn about the medieval Boleyns 👀