Jim Wald
@citizenwald.bsky.social
Historian, Hampshire College, Amherst MA
Europe C18-20, book history, historic preservation
Past service: SHARP sharpweb.org, Massachusetts Center for the Book https://www.massbook.org/
Co-editor, Routledge History of Antisemitism
http://tiny.cc/pb7xzz
Europe C18-20, book history, historic preservation
Past service: SHARP sharpweb.org, Massachusetts Center for the Book https://www.massbook.org/
Co-editor, Routledge History of Antisemitism
http://tiny.cc/pb7xzz
Every once in awhile, I wonder what I was thinking when I decided to get a polar bear--but the feeling quickly vanishes.
Who could resist the charms of a good boy such as this?
Who could resist the charms of a good boy such as this?
November 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Every once in awhile, I wonder what I was thinking when I decided to get a polar bear--but the feeling quickly vanishes.
Who could resist the charms of a good boy such as this?
Who could resist the charms of a good boy such as this?
One of those rare cases when a scholar secures a correction:
November 17, 1738 Boston Tea Party Raider Born
www.massmoments.org/...
15 years ago, J. L. Bell @boston1775.bsky.social @Boston1775 did some research
David Kinnison: “not credible”
boston1775.blogspot....
November 17, 1738 Boston Tea Party Raider Born
www.massmoments.org/...
15 years ago, J. L. Bell @boston1775.bsky.social @Boston1775 did some research
David Kinnison: “not credible”
boston1775.blogspot....
November 18, 2025 at 3:08 AM
One of those rare cases when a scholar secures a correction:
November 17, 1738 Boston Tea Party Raider Born
www.massmoments.org/...
15 years ago, J. L. Bell @boston1775.bsky.social @Boston1775 did some research
David Kinnison: “not credible”
boston1775.blogspot....
November 17, 1738 Boston Tea Party Raider Born
www.massmoments.org/...
15 years ago, J. L. Bell @boston1775.bsky.social @Boston1775 did some research
David Kinnison: “not credible”
boston1775.blogspot....
Among the items in the package with the thoughtfully chosen bicentennial #stamps were several stamp album pages by the #Polish-#Jewish-#American progressive artist Artur Szyk. Here's USA (1945).
Some very interesting progressive choices, no "great men"
(links: alt text)
Some very interesting progressive choices, no "great men"
(links: alt text)
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Among the items in the package with the thoughtfully chosen bicentennial #stamps were several stamp album pages by the #Polish-#Jewish-#American progressive artist Artur Szyk. Here's USA (1945).
Some very interesting progressive choices, no "great men"
(links: alt text)
Some very interesting progressive choices, no "great men"
(links: alt text)
As everyone gets ready to watch the Ken Burns American Revolution, a happy coincidence. I always really appreciate it when antiquarian book dealers bring their historical sensibility to postage & packaging:
a full sheet of the bicentennial stamp commemorating victory at Saratoga
a full sheet of the bicentennial stamp commemorating victory at Saratoga
November 17, 2025 at 12:01 AM
As everyone gets ready to watch the Ken Burns American Revolution, a happy coincidence. I always really appreciate it when antiquarian book dealers bring their historical sensibility to postage & packaging:
a full sheet of the bicentennial stamp commemorating victory at Saratoga
a full sheet of the bicentennial stamp commemorating victory at Saratoga
Speaking of #Massachusetts woes . . .
#UMass #Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social @UMassAmherst navigates cocaine sting, fire, and union pressure
www.bostonglobe.com/...
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were alligators in the UMass hotel at this point,” said Alexis Ali
#UMass #Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social @UMassAmherst navigates cocaine sting, fire, and union pressure
www.bostonglobe.com/...
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were alligators in the UMass hotel at this point,” said Alexis Ali
November 16, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Speaking of #Massachusetts woes . . .
#UMass #Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social @UMassAmherst navigates cocaine sting, fire, and union pressure
www.bostonglobe.com/...
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were alligators in the UMass hotel at this point,” said Alexis Ali
#UMass #Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social @UMassAmherst navigates cocaine sting, fire, and union pressure
www.bostonglobe.com/...
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were alligators in the UMass hotel at this point,” said Alexis Ali
And, as long as I am sharing old #book #history stories from Rochester (as one does on a cloudy Saturday afternoon), here's one on the creation of a Renaissance book wheel
www.rochester.edu/ne...
Was privileged to see both @sharpweb.org conference in July: at U Rochester + RIT
www.rochester.edu/ne...
Was privileged to see both @sharpweb.org conference in July: at U Rochester + RIT
November 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
And, as long as I am sharing old #book #history stories from Rochester (as one does on a cloudy Saturday afternoon), here's one on the creation of a Renaissance book wheel
www.rochester.edu/ne...
Was privileged to see both @sharpweb.org conference in July: at U Rochester + RIT
www.rochester.edu/ne...
Was privileged to see both @sharpweb.org conference in July: at U Rochester + RIT
I mention the complications of the DoD name change not just because (1) one cannot do this by fiat (2) ppl have no idea of the unglamorous details of bureaucracy (3) to point out that the old seal was so much cooler: here from the great film "Memphis Belle" (links alt text)
2/2
2/2
November 15, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I mention the complications of the DoD name change not just because (1) one cannot do this by fiat (2) ppl have no idea of the unglamorous details of bureaucracy (3) to point out that the old seal was so much cooler: here from the great film "Memphis Belle" (links alt text)
2/2
2/2
Originally, 6 horses pulled the "French 75" field gun, introduced in 1897.
Here's a document certifying the withdrawal (discharge, retirement) of a 13-year-old horse in 1898
2/2
Here's a document certifying the withdrawal (discharge, retirement) of a 13-year-old horse in 1898
2/2
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Originally, 6 horses pulled the "French 75" field gun, introduced in 1897.
Here's a document certifying the withdrawal (discharge, retirement) of a 13-year-old horse in 1898
2/2
Here's a document certifying the withdrawal (discharge, retirement) of a 13-year-old horse in 1898
2/2
Speaking of revolutionary French developments, the great French 75 field gun revolutionized artillery warfare & during World War I earned its own holiday
It lent its name to a potent cocktail but early recipes included calvados & grenadine rather than champagne links alt text
1/2
It lent its name to a potent cocktail but early recipes included calvados & grenadine rather than champagne links alt text
1/2
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Speaking of revolutionary French developments, the great French 75 field gun revolutionized artillery warfare & during World War I earned its own holiday
It lent its name to a potent cocktail but early recipes included calvados & grenadine rather than champagne links alt text
1/2
It lent its name to a potent cocktail but early recipes included calvados & grenadine rather than champagne links alt text
1/2
Nations around the world celebrated the bicentennial of the French Revolution in 1989 in #philately
#Israel's postage #stamp, like that of #Ghana, depicted the erection of a liberty tree--but the accompanying tabs depicted the November 1791 decree of #Jewish emancipation
2/2
#Israel's postage #stamp, like that of #Ghana, depicted the erection of a liberty tree--but the accompanying tabs depicted the November 1791 decree of #Jewish emancipation
2/2
November 15, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Nations around the world celebrated the bicentennial of the French Revolution in 1989 in #philately
#Israel's postage #stamp, like that of #Ghana, depicted the erection of a liberty tree--but the accompanying tabs depicted the November 1791 decree of #Jewish emancipation
2/2
#Israel's postage #stamp, like that of #Ghana, depicted the erection of a liberty tree--but the accompanying tabs depicted the November 1791 decree of #Jewish emancipation
2/2
13 November 1791: Louis XVI affirms complete emancipation of all Jews enacted by the National Assembly in September, fulfilling the promises of equality dating from 1789. The supposedly more civilized and assimilable Sephardim received their rights in 1790.
(links: alt text)
1/2
(links: alt text)
1/2
November 15, 2025 at 1:50 AM
13 November 1791: Louis XVI affirms complete emancipation of all Jews enacted by the National Assembly in September, fulfilling the promises of equality dating from 1789. The supposedly more civilized and assimilable Sephardim received their rights in 1790.
(links: alt text)
1/2
(links: alt text)
1/2
Another sobering takeaway from the Anne Applebaum talk at Amherst College:
"The spectacle of US democracy undermining itself" can only be very welcome to the likes of Putin and Xi
5/7
"The spectacle of US democracy undermining itself" can only be very welcome to the likes of Putin and Xi
5/7
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Another sobering takeaway from the Anne Applebaum talk at Amherst College:
"The spectacle of US democracy undermining itself" can only be very welcome to the likes of Putin and Xi
5/7
"The spectacle of US democracy undermining itself" can only be very welcome to the likes of Putin and Xi
5/7
11 November 1918: 2nd Polish Republic established. #Poland regains sovereignty after the 3 Partitions of the late 18th century and failed revolts of the 19th.
Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Polish national forces, Józef Piłsudski declares independence.
His tomb in Kraków
Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Polish national forces, Józef Piłsudski declares independence.
His tomb in Kraków
November 12, 2025 at 1:49 AM
11 November 1918: 2nd Polish Republic established. #Poland regains sovereignty after the 3 Partitions of the late 18th century and failed revolts of the 19th.
Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Polish national forces, Józef Piłsudski declares independence.
His tomb in Kraków
Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Polish national forces, Józef Piłsudski declares independence.
His tomb in Kraków
The room in which German author Friedrich #Schiller was born (Marbach am Neckar November 10, 1759): decked out in the cluttered style of house museum as shrine and exhibit space fashionable in 1910--and in its more recent state with just a copy of the monumental bust by Dannecker
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The room in which German author Friedrich #Schiller was born (Marbach am Neckar November 10, 1759): decked out in the cluttered style of house museum as shrine and exhibit space fashionable in 1910--and in its more recent state with just a copy of the monumental bust by Dannecker
Happy birthday, Friedrich #Schiller, 10 November 1759 Marbach am Neckar, Württemberg. The family moved away in 1764, but the connection allowed the sleepy town to claim the name Schillerstadt (www.schillerstadt-ma...) and the cult of this author developed in the 19th century
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Happy birthday, Friedrich #Schiller, 10 November 1759 Marbach am Neckar, Württemberg. The family moved away in 1764, but the connection allowed the sleepy town to claim the name Schillerstadt (www.schillerstadt-ma...) and the cult of this author developed in the 19th century
What a nice idea!
Rainy & cloudy here, too--so here's a battered but treasured leaf of mine from Lonicer's Kreuterbuch of c. 1590--Smithsonian calls it 1 of 1st bestsellers: in print 1557-1783
Scarlet Lobelia: no scent, no known medical value--just planted "for pleasure" b/c so "pretty to look at"
Rainy & cloudy here, too--so here's a battered but treasured leaf of mine from Lonicer's Kreuterbuch of c. 1590--Smithsonian calls it 1 of 1st bestsellers: in print 1557-1783
Scarlet Lobelia: no scent, no known medical value--just planted "for pleasure" b/c so "pretty to look at"
November 9, 2025 at 11:25 PM
What a nice idea!
Rainy & cloudy here, too--so here's a battered but treasured leaf of mine from Lonicer's Kreuterbuch of c. 1590--Smithsonian calls it 1 of 1st bestsellers: in print 1557-1783
Scarlet Lobelia: no scent, no known medical value--just planted "for pleasure" b/c so "pretty to look at"
Rainy & cloudy here, too--so here's a battered but treasured leaf of mine from Lonicer's Kreuterbuch of c. 1590--Smithsonian calls it 1 of 1st bestsellers: in print 1557-1783
Scarlet Lobelia: no scent, no known medical value--just planted "for pleasure" b/c so "pretty to look at"
revolutionary Robert Blum
b 10 Nov. 1807
shot Vienna 9 Nov. 1848
He died for freedom
The man of the people is dead--yet his spirit lives on
Gottfried Drentwett's #medals honoring revolutionaries Blum & Kossuth got him into trouble with the authorities
www.google.com/books...
b 10 Nov. 1807
shot Vienna 9 Nov. 1848
He died for freedom
The man of the people is dead--yet his spirit lives on
Gottfried Drentwett's #medals honoring revolutionaries Blum & Kossuth got him into trouble with the authorities
www.google.com/books...
November 9, 2025 at 10:24 PM
revolutionary Robert Blum
b 10 Nov. 1807
shot Vienna 9 Nov. 1848
He died for freedom
The man of the people is dead--yet his spirit lives on
Gottfried Drentwett's #medals honoring revolutionaries Blum & Kossuth got him into trouble with the authorities
www.google.com/books...
b 10 Nov. 1807
shot Vienna 9 Nov. 1848
He died for freedom
The man of the people is dead--yet his spirit lives on
Gottfried Drentwett's #medals honoring revolutionaries Blum & Kossuth got him into trouble with the authorities
www.google.com/books...
German revolutionary Robert Blum: born 10 November 1807, executed Vienna 9 November 1848
That was back when "violence" meant physical harm rather than words, and "revolution" and "resistance" were not just slogans: a matter of life and death
#medal #numismatics #revolution
That was back when "violence" meant physical harm rather than words, and "revolution" and "resistance" were not just slogans: a matter of life and death
#medal #numismatics #revolution
November 9, 2025 at 10:24 PM
German revolutionary Robert Blum: born 10 November 1807, executed Vienna 9 November 1848
That was back when "violence" meant physical harm rather than words, and "revolution" and "resistance" were not just slogans: a matter of life and death
#medal #numismatics #revolution
That was back when "violence" meant physical harm rather than words, and "revolution" and "resistance" were not just slogans: a matter of life and death
#medal #numismatics #revolution
A tourist in #Prague might would note the name Bílá Hora if taking the 22 Tram, whose western route ends there. Almost none would know the reference to the decisive battle, much less how to reach the site, behind housing developments & farmers' fields
english.radio.cz/bat...
english.radio.cz/bat...
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A tourist in #Prague might would note the name Bílá Hora if taking the 22 Tram, whose western route ends there. Almost none would know the reference to the decisive battle, much less how to reach the site, behind housing developments & farmers' fields
english.radio.cz/bat...
english.radio.cz/bat...
A timely article, given that this episode takes place in 1941, and I'm teaching about African Americans in the military during World War II
--and in light of our mega-tour of early presidential homes and sites of enslavement last month. I still need to post about that.
#slavery
--and in light of our mega-tour of early presidential homes and sites of enslavement last month. I still need to post about that.
#slavery
November 9, 2025 at 4:02 AM
A timely article, given that this episode takes place in 1941, and I'm teaching about African Americans in the military during World War II
--and in light of our mega-tour of early presidential homes and sites of enslavement last month. I still need to post about that.
#slavery
--and in light of our mega-tour of early presidential homes and sites of enslavement last month. I still need to post about that.
#slavery
Hotel UMass in Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social
@UMassAmherst draws attention in cocaine sting
www.bostonglobe.com/...
Didn't have this on my bingo card, though actually, I'm as much interested in the characterizations of the building.
#brutalism historic #preservation
@UMassAmherst draws attention in cocaine sting
www.bostonglobe.com/...
Didn't have this on my bingo card, though actually, I'm as much interested in the characterizations of the building.
#brutalism historic #preservation
November 9, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Hotel UMass in Amherst @umassamherst.bsky.social
@UMassAmherst draws attention in cocaine sting
www.bostonglobe.com/...
Didn't have this on my bingo card, though actually, I'm as much interested in the characterizations of the building.
#brutalism historic #preservation
@UMassAmherst draws attention in cocaine sting
www.bostonglobe.com/...
Didn't have this on my bingo card, though actually, I'm as much interested in the characterizations of the building.
#brutalism historic #preservation
Charles X (died 6 November 1836) was the last French king to undergo the full traditional coronation ceremony at Reims, a reflection of his reactionary ideas.
Even tried to revive the "royal touch." In the age of science.
Deservedly overthrown in the Revolution of 1830.
Even tried to revive the "royal touch." In the age of science.
Deservedly overthrown in the Revolution of 1830.
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Charles X (died 6 November 1836) was the last French king to undergo the full traditional coronation ceremony at Reims, a reflection of his reactionary ideas.
Even tried to revive the "royal touch." In the age of science.
Deservedly overthrown in the Revolution of 1830.
Even tried to revive the "royal touch." In the age of science.
Deservedly overthrown in the Revolution of 1830.
Speaking of the #Habsburgs and Emperor Karl, who died young in 1922, here he is depicted on 2 postage stamp from 1917
1) portrait, on stamp for military post in Bosnia-Herzegovina
2) visiting the liberated city of Czernowitz in August, on a war relief stamp
1) portrait, on stamp for military post in Bosnia-Herzegovina
2) visiting the liberated city of Czernowitz in August, on a war relief stamp
November 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Speaking of the #Habsburgs and Emperor Karl, who died young in 1922, here he is depicted on 2 postage stamp from 1917
1) portrait, on stamp for military post in Bosnia-Herzegovina
2) visiting the liberated city of Czernowitz in August, on a war relief stamp
1) portrait, on stamp for military post in Bosnia-Herzegovina
2) visiting the liberated city of Czernowitz in August, on a war relief stamp
Speaking of The Atlantic Monthly, here's a review of our own Emily Dickinson's #poetry from 1913
(link to digitized version: alt text)
2/2
(link to digitized version: alt text)
2/2
November 1, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Speaking of The Atlantic Monthly, here's a review of our own Emily Dickinson's #poetry from 1913
(link to digitized version: alt text)
2/2
(link to digitized version: alt text)
2/2
November
Calendrier Gastronomique: Histories de cuisine et cuisine de l’histoire par Marius Dutrey, dessins par Pierre Camin (London: 1938) 88/250 copies
Dutrey was a chef in leading French & British hotels 1918-62. La Coupe d'Or Internationale d'Art Culinaire bears his name
Calendrier Gastronomique: Histories de cuisine et cuisine de l’histoire par Marius Dutrey, dessins par Pierre Camin (London: 1938) 88/250 copies
Dutrey was a chef in leading French & British hotels 1918-62. La Coupe d'Or Internationale d'Art Culinaire bears his name
November 1, 2025 at 8:42 PM
November
Calendrier Gastronomique: Histories de cuisine et cuisine de l’histoire par Marius Dutrey, dessins par Pierre Camin (London: 1938) 88/250 copies
Dutrey was a chef in leading French & British hotels 1918-62. La Coupe d'Or Internationale d'Art Culinaire bears his name
Calendrier Gastronomique: Histories de cuisine et cuisine de l’histoire par Marius Dutrey, dessins par Pierre Camin (London: 1938) 88/250 copies
Dutrey was a chef in leading French & British hotels 1918-62. La Coupe d'Or Internationale d'Art Culinaire bears his name