Jay Moschella
@jaymoschella.bsky.social
Parent, librarian, public servant, person in Boston
Overjoyed to say that this is now on my desk. The auction house -- and the consignor in particular -- were enthusiastically cooperative and now this frankly incredible manuscript is back in Boston. Many thanks to you and to @drleonj.bsky.social for bringing this to my attention!
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Overjoyed to say that this is now on my desk. The auction house -- and the consignor in particular -- were enthusiastically cooperative and now this frankly incredible manuscript is back in Boston. Many thanks to you and to @drleonj.bsky.social for bringing this to my attention!
Late fall Vermont
October 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Late fall Vermont
Wild find from among my late grandfather's stuff: what appears to be a ticket to opening night of the run of April 1964 Lenny Bruce shows in Greenwich Village that ultimately led to his arrest, trial, and conviction on obscenity charges.
September 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Wild find from among my late grandfather's stuff: what appears to be a ticket to opening night of the run of April 1964 Lenny Bruce shows in Greenwich Village that ultimately led to his arrest, trial, and conviction on obscenity charges.
A 1471 edition of Valerius Maximus, printed in Mainz by Peter Schoeffer. An artifact from a period in European printing history when innovations in presswork (and the printing press itself) were just taking hold. The illuminated border is a 19th-century addition. 3 of 3
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A 1471 edition of Valerius Maximus, printed in Mainz by Peter Schoeffer. An artifact from a period in European printing history when innovations in presswork (and the printing press itself) were just taking hold. The illuminated border is a 19th-century addition. 3 of 3
An extremely rare illustrated version of Aesop’s fables intended for Italian school children to learn Latin. Printed in Milan in 1497, this is one of 5 recorded copies. At BPL, it joins a strong collection of other editions of 15th-century Aesop school texts. 2/3
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
An extremely rare illustrated version of Aesop’s fables intended for Italian school children to learn Latin. Printed in Milan in 1497, this is one of 5 recorded copies. At BPL, it joins a strong collection of other editions of 15th-century Aesop school texts. 2/3
Some newly acquired early print at the Boston Public Library: first, an unrecorded edition of Tifi Odasi’s Macaronea printed in Rome ca. 1493-1499. A bawdy verse satire on university humanists in Padua, it's written in a playful mix of Latin and Italian. Purchased from Patrick Olson Rare Books. 1/3
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Some newly acquired early print at the Boston Public Library: first, an unrecorded edition of Tifi Odasi’s Macaronea printed in Rome ca. 1493-1499. A bawdy verse satire on university humanists in Padua, it's written in a playful mix of Latin and Italian. Purchased from Patrick Olson Rare Books. 1/3
Ending Cape vacation in style
September 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Ending Cape vacation in style
Blustery bayside Cape Cod morning
September 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Blustery bayside Cape Cod morning
A little Cape Cod beach time this week
August 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A little Cape Cod beach time this week
Birthday party geode cracking
August 15, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Birthday party geode cracking
Working with the BPL Catholicon today. It’s such an ocean of information—textual and material.
August 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Working with the BPL Catholicon today. It’s such an ocean of information—textual and material.
This morning’s sunrise blanketed with the now more or less permanent wildfire smoke, or a backdrop from Bladerunner 2049?
August 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
This morning’s sunrise blanketed with the now more or less permanent wildfire smoke, or a backdrop from Bladerunner 2049?
Last day of Basque travels ends in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a popular starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Clear water, stone walls, and views of the Pyrenees.
July 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Last day of Basque travels ends in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a popular starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Clear water, stone walls, and views of the Pyrenees.
Morning hike in Basque foothills
July 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Morning hike in Basque foothills
A week in Basque Country
July 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A week in Basque Country
A complete copy of the U.S. Army Talmud, AKA the Survivors' Talmud. Printed in Heidelberg in 1948 by and for Holocaust survivors, this copy was sent to the BPL's West End Branch in 1951 to become part of the collection formerly curated by the pioneering Judaica librarian Fanny Goldstein. (4/4)
July 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A complete copy of the U.S. Army Talmud, AKA the Survivors' Talmud. Printed in Heidelberg in 1948 by and for Holocaust survivors, this copy was sent to the BPL's West End Branch in 1951 to become part of the collection formerly curated by the pioneering Judaica librarian Fanny Goldstein. (4/4)
A collection of ephemera published and distributed by the Red Book Store between 1972 and 1992. An anti-profit collective that operated in Cambridge and Boston, the org changed its name to the Lucy Parsons Center in 1992 (3/4)
July 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A collection of ephemera published and distributed by the Red Book Store between 1972 and 1992. An anti-profit collective that operated in Cambridge and Boston, the org changed its name to the Lucy Parsons Center in 1992 (3/4)
A collection of radical pamphlets issued or printed by the New England Free Press in Boston and Somerville between 1969 and 1981 (2/4)
July 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A collection of radical pamphlets issued or printed by the New England Free Press in Boston and Somerville between 1969 and 1981 (2/4)
Interesting things that have come across our desks in the Boston Public Library Rare Books Dept. of late (1/4)
A previously unrecorded half-plate (i.e. LARGE) daguerreotype of the Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips
A previously unrecorded half-plate (i.e. LARGE) daguerreotype of the Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips
July 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Interesting things that have come across our desks in the Boston Public Library Rare Books Dept. of late (1/4)
A previously unrecorded half-plate (i.e. LARGE) daguerreotype of the Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips
A previously unrecorded half-plate (i.e. LARGE) daguerreotype of the Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips
Just finished redescribing BPL Boston’s fantastic pamphlet collection originally assembled by Aldino Felicani (1891-1967). Born in Italy, Felicani emigrated to Boston where he published the anti-fascist newspaper Controcorrente at his Excelsior press in the North End. 1/2
May 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Just finished redescribing BPL Boston’s fantastic pamphlet collection originally assembled by Aldino Felicani (1891-1967). Born in Italy, Felicani emigrated to Boston where he published the anti-fascist newspaper Controcorrente at his Excelsior press in the North End. 1/2
Winding down before bedtime by scurrying through this enormous habitrail for children
May 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Winding down before bedtime by scurrying through this enormous habitrail for children