Steven Van Impe
@svanimpe.bsky.social
Book historian, rare books curator Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience, Antwerp. Opinions mine, I may be wrong, follow/like isn't endorsement. He/him. Caregiver for a partner with Long Covid. Used to be @RareBookLibAntw on Twitter. Profile pic by LUCID.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
It's the 3rd of January 1939, your name is professor James Smith and you are staring at a drawing of a fish. It's not a regular fish. It is a completely impossible fish.
January 6, 2026 at 10:27 PM
It's the 3rd of January 1939, your name is professor James Smith and you are staring at a drawing of a fish. It's not a regular fish. It is a completely impossible fish.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
By way of introduction: my book, The Multiplicity of Scripture: The Making of the Antwerp Polyglot Bible (Toronto: PIMS 2025)
pims.ca/publication/...
Available in North America via @uoftpress.bsky.social, in Europe via @brepols.net, and in digital form by @degruyterbrill.bsky.social
pims.ca/publication/...
Available in North America via @uoftpress.bsky.social, in Europe via @brepols.net, and in digital form by @degruyterbrill.bsky.social
The Multiplicity of Scripture: The Making of the Antwerp Polyglot Bible – Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
pims.ca
January 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
By way of introduction: my book, The Multiplicity of Scripture: The Making of the Antwerp Polyglot Bible (Toronto: PIMS 2025)
pims.ca/publication/...
Available in North America via @uoftpress.bsky.social, in Europe via @brepols.net, and in digital form by @degruyterbrill.bsky.social
pims.ca/publication/...
Available in North America via @uoftpress.bsky.social, in Europe via @brepols.net, and in digital form by @degruyterbrill.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Does anyone know where the red light district was in 19thC Leicester?
I will trade you knowledge of the red light district in Peterborough.
I will trade you knowledge of the red light district in Peterborough.
January 7, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Does anyone know where the red light district was in 19thC Leicester?
I will trade you knowledge of the red light district in Peterborough.
I will trade you knowledge of the red light district in Peterborough.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
A man travelling within the lines of a text printed in 1621. Enjoy this short 🧵 for #skystorians and friends of news flows.
January 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
A man travelling within the lines of a text printed in 1621. Enjoy this short 🧵 for #skystorians and friends of news flows.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
The idea that digitization is a preservation strategy is not at all popular among archivists (including us digital specialists) and as organizational policy basically always originates from administrators (even with disciplinary training) who don’t understand the issue.
The extremely easy capture of tech leaders, platforms, and initiatives by fascists interested in shutting knowledge production down should force us to rethink digitization as a sufficient or secure strategy for maintaining access to knowledge.
This story reminds us that:
a) Not everything has been digitized
b) Not everything digitized is accessible to the public
Also: What's happening at NASA is part of a broader trend of library closures in government & industry. (Even university libraries are moving away from physical books & journals)
a) Not everything has been digitized
b) Not everything digitized is accessible to the public
Also: What's happening at NASA is part of a broader trend of library closures in government & industry. (Even university libraries are moving away from physical books & journals)
January 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
The idea that digitization is a preservation strategy is not at all popular among archivists (including us digital specialists) and as organizational policy basically always originates from administrators (even with disciplinary training) who don’t understand the issue.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
The extremely easy capture of tech leaders, platforms, and initiatives by fascists interested in shutting knowledge production down should force us to rethink digitization as a sufficient or secure strategy for maintaining access to knowledge.
This story reminds us that:
a) Not everything has been digitized
b) Not everything digitized is accessible to the public
Also: What's happening at NASA is part of a broader trend of library closures in government & industry. (Even university libraries are moving away from physical books & journals)
a) Not everything has been digitized
b) Not everything digitized is accessible to the public
Also: What's happening at NASA is part of a broader trend of library closures in government & industry. (Even university libraries are moving away from physical books & journals)
They're going to *throw out* one-of-a-kind NASA archives?!
Not even a year since the Inauguration & we're already at the 2nd-time-as-farce version of the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
Not even a year since the Inauguration & we're already at the 2nd-time-as-farce version of the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
January 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM
The extremely easy capture of tech leaders, platforms, and initiatives by fascists interested in shutting knowledge production down should force us to rethink digitization as a sufficient or secure strategy for maintaining access to knowledge.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Sometimes a case just stops you in your tracks, like this 1816 Boston investigation of “a Woman personating a Man, by being dressed in Men’s apparel and parading the Streets.” The case never made it to trial, & I can find nothing else abt her. Not the only crossdressing case I’ve seen but rare! 🗃️
January 6, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Sometimes a case just stops you in your tracks, like this 1816 Boston investigation of “a Woman personating a Man, by being dressed in Men’s apparel and parading the Streets.” The case never made it to trial, & I can find nothing else abt her. Not the only crossdressing case I’ve seen but rare! 🗃️
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Aretino would be (was) the greatest poster of all time; inventor of the gossip column; trolled Michelangelo so hard that he's immortalized on the Sistine Chapel holding the artist's flayed skin; friend to one Pope, another tried to assassinate him; beloved by & friend of sex workers, died lol-ing
Do you have a historical figure you most wish got to be a poster? I feel like you must have a better answer than mine, which is Churchill. The guy started autobiography when he was 19 I think. And just never stopped. True poster.
January 7, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Aretino would be (was) the greatest poster of all time; inventor of the gossip column; trolled Michelangelo so hard that he's immortalized on the Sistine Chapel holding the artist's flayed skin; friend to one Pope, another tried to assassinate him; beloved by & friend of sex workers, died lol-ing
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Do any of y'all have friends in Morocco at the moment? Specifically Rabat?
There are a couple of manuscripts in the Khazinat al-Ammah that I'd like to get eyes on and possibly images of, but the budget doesn't stretch to plane tickets.
#medievalsky #research #academicsky
There are a couple of manuscripts in the Khazinat al-Ammah that I'd like to get eyes on and possibly images of, but the budget doesn't stretch to plane tickets.
#medievalsky #research #academicsky
January 7, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Do any of y'all have friends in Morocco at the moment? Specifically Rabat?
There are a couple of manuscripts in the Khazinat al-Ammah that I'd like to get eyes on and possibly images of, but the budget doesn't stretch to plane tickets.
#medievalsky #research #academicsky
There are a couple of manuscripts in the Khazinat al-Ammah that I'd like to get eyes on and possibly images of, but the budget doesn't stretch to plane tickets.
#medievalsky #research #academicsky
Sadly, it doesn't seem to have celebrity death matches. Yet.
It's an MTV simulator with almost 30,000 videos, organized by decade, with special sections for Headbanger's Ball and Yo! MTV Raps. This is so good.
This is really, really great.
wantmymtv.vercel.app
wantmymtv.vercel.app
January 6, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Sadly, it doesn't seem to have celebrity death matches. Yet.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Anyone has any advice for how to deal with US universities? I did a fellowship at @umich.edu last year, and now they are charging me for an "automatic insurance" which has more than tripled because they added six fines to it before contacting me about it
January 6, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Anyone has any advice for how to deal with US universities? I did a fellowship at @umich.edu last year, and now they are charging me for an "automatic insurance" which has more than tripled because they added six fines to it before contacting me about it
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Its only Archives if its from the Archivique region of France, otherwise its just sparkling backups...
January 6, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Its only Archives if its from the Archivique region of France, otherwise its just sparkling backups...
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
AI guys are like we can’t use it to cure cancer but we can suck all the joy and purpose out of life so that dying isn’t sad
January 6, 2026 at 6:01 PM
AI guys are like we can’t use it to cure cancer but we can suck all the joy and purpose out of life so that dying isn’t sad
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
This cat's ass is definitely sticking to the pan.
January 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
This cat's ass is definitely sticking to the pan.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Does anyone have a reference to a single peer-reviewed scientific article demonstrating the danger of gel nail polish (or nail polish) to rare books and manuscripts in their handling?
There are many anecdotes, which I expect are misogynist and classist dog whistles.
There are many anecdotes, which I expect are misogynist and classist dog whistles.
January 6, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Does anyone have a reference to a single peer-reviewed scientific article demonstrating the danger of gel nail polish (or nail polish) to rare books and manuscripts in their handling?
There are many anecdotes, which I expect are misogynist and classist dog whistles.
There are many anecdotes, which I expect are misogynist and classist dog whistles.
Is this... is this two bots chatting each other up on world politics based on my thread of a biography of the Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew?
🫠
🫠
For those that are interested
First #bookhistory post of the year. Some books simply scream for a thread!
We have two copies of the same #EarlyModern edition. Why would we want to collect two copies of the same book, you ask? Read on!
EHC Antwerp, K 54092 copy 1 and 2.
[1/16] 📜 💙📚
We have two copies of the same #EarlyModern edition. Why would we want to collect two copies of the same book, you ask? Read on!
EHC Antwerp, K 54092 copy 1 and 2.
[1/16] 📜 💙📚
January 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Is this... is this two bots chatting each other up on world politics based on my thread of a biography of the Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew?
🫠
🫠
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Does anyone know who Nicolinus Beninus is?
January 6, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Does anyone know who Nicolinus Beninus is?
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
So far in 1066:
• Edward the Confessor has died.
• Harold Godwineson has been named king instead of Edgar Ætheling.
• Edward has been buried.
• Harold has been crowned.
It's still only 6 January.
• Edward the Confessor has died.
• Harold Godwineson has been named king instead of Edgar Ætheling.
• Edward has been buried.
• Harold has been crowned.
It's still only 6 January.
January 6, 2026 at 9:36 AM
So far in 1066:
• Edward the Confessor has died.
• Harold Godwineson has been named king instead of Edgar Ætheling.
• Edward has been buried.
• Harold has been crowned.
It's still only 6 January.
• Edward the Confessor has died.
• Harold Godwineson has been named king instead of Edgar Ætheling.
• Edward has been buried.
• Harold has been crowned.
It's still only 6 January.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
tired curse: 'may you live in interesting times'
wired curse: 'may an area of your research become relevant to discussions of US foreign policy'
wired curse: 'may an area of your research become relevant to discussions of US foreign policy'
January 5, 2026 at 9:55 PM
tired curse: 'may you live in interesting times'
wired curse: 'may an area of your research become relevant to discussions of US foreign policy'
wired curse: 'may an area of your research become relevant to discussions of US foreign policy'
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Ken ik via-via metaaldetector-personen in Vlaanderen?
Delen = ♥!
Delen = ♥!
January 5, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Ken ik via-via metaaldetector-personen in Vlaanderen?
Delen = ♥!
Delen = ♥!
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
poll for academics: how many rhetorical questions are acceptable in a 20-25 page article?
January 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM
poll for academics: how many rhetorical questions are acceptable in a 20-25 page article?
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
I randomly watched some of these over Christmas and it's true. But also I mused on how slow-moving it was. I liked that pace but it was about 45 minutes before there was even a murder in one of them. Cannot imagine that flying now.
Got the box set of the BBC Miss Marple series (1984-1992) for Christmas and have started a watch-through. An initial thought is: quality UK TV from the 60s to early 90s is something I enjoy so much it would be easy to just immerse myself in it entirely to the detriment of everything else.
January 5, 2026 at 10:56 PM
I randomly watched some of these over Christmas and it's true. But also I mused on how slow-moving it was. I liked that pace but it was about 45 minutes before there was even a murder in one of them. Cannot imagine that flying now.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
Making #bookhistory in the worst way possible.
Following backlash from the French Literary Translators Association, HarperCollins France confirmed it is “conducting tests” with a company that “uses experienced translators who utilize artificial intelligence tools” to translate Harlequin titles into French
Harlequin France to Test AI-Assisted Translation
Following backlash from the French Literary Translators Association, HarperCollins France confirmed it’s “conducting tests” with a French company that “uses experienced translators who utilize…
buff.ly
January 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Making #bookhistory in the worst way possible.
Reposted by Steven Van Impe
One guy tried, unsuccessfully, to blow up a plane with a bomb in his sneakers, and everybody had to take off their shoes at the airport for the next 20 years.
Chatbots have a collective body count equal to Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez, and they're trying to put them in schools.
Chatbots have a collective body count equal to Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez, and they're trying to put them in schools.
30 years ago they were like we have to ban song lyrics for the children but it’s full steam ahead for the here’s how to do drugs until you die machine
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
January 6, 2026 at 1:37 AM
One guy tried, unsuccessfully, to blow up a plane with a bomb in his sneakers, and everybody had to take off their shoes at the airport for the next 20 years.
Chatbots have a collective body count equal to Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez, and they're trying to put them in schools.
Chatbots have a collective body count equal to Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez, and they're trying to put them in schools.