Brain Simpson
@misterbiscuitsbap.bsky.social
Monster who loves biscuits more than anything! Not the account of the jazz pianist nor the Briitsh Labour Party politician
Reposted by Brain Simpson
This microscope was made by the Beck brothers in London, with the lenses designed according to formulas done by Joseph Lister’s father, Joseph Jackson Lister. These new lenses significantly improved image quality and significantly enhanced the microscope as a scientific tool.
November 17, 2025 at 12:02 PM
This microscope was made by the Beck brothers in London, with the lenses designed according to formulas done by Joseph Lister’s father, Joseph Jackson Lister. These new lenses significantly improved image quality and significantly enhanced the microscope as a scientific tool.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
A jaguar, strolling jauntily along. Drawn in Brazil by Dutch artist Frans Post, who was born on this day in 1612.
November 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
A jaguar, strolling jauntily along. Drawn in Brazil by Dutch artist Frans Post, who was born on this day in 1612.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Sugar Mill on a small river in Brazil, 1650s. A grim and sad place for those pictured here. By Frans Post, who was born OTD in 1612.
November 18, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Sugar Mill on a small river in Brazil, 1650s. A grim and sad place for those pictured here. By Frans Post, who was born OTD in 1612.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
When you really need to stress where the most important bit of the text is - 15th century, Avignon, Bibliothèque Ceccano - 1094, f. 195v
November 19, 2025 at 5:37 AM
When you really need to stress where the most important bit of the text is - 15th century, Avignon, Bibliothèque Ceccano - 1094, f. 195v
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Some people will tell you that the Mary Rose never made it out of the harbour, but she was actually well travelled, at least for a ship in Henry VIII's navy.
This map shows some of the Mary Rose's more notable destinations - any near you? #Museum30 #Maps
maryrose.org/discover/his...
This map shows some of the Mary Rose's more notable destinations - any near you? #Museum30 #Maps
maryrose.org/discover/his...
November 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Some people will tell you that the Mary Rose never made it out of the harbour, but she was actually well travelled, at least for a ship in Henry VIII's navy.
This map shows some of the Mary Rose's more notable destinations - any near you? #Museum30 #Maps
maryrose.org/discover/his...
This map shows some of the Mary Rose's more notable destinations - any near you? #Museum30 #Maps
maryrose.org/discover/his...
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Happy birthday to @bodleian.ox.ac.uk, which first opened its doors #otd in 1602. 423 years young today!
November 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Happy birthday to @bodleian.ox.ac.uk, which first opened its doors #otd in 1602. 423 years young today!
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
November 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
Reposted by Brain Simpson
It is pretty obvious who is the Good Dog here, and accordingly gets lots and lots of Pat-Pats 😊
📸🧭 Charles bridge, Prague
📸🧭 Charles bridge, Prague
November 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
It is pretty obvious who is the Good Dog here, and accordingly gets lots and lots of Pat-Pats 😊
📸🧭 Charles bridge, Prague
📸🧭 Charles bridge, Prague
Reposted by Brain Simpson
👨⚖️ OTD 1485, the First Tudor Parliament Opened, with the new king, Henry VII, seated upon his throne. Among the order of business was Henry's claim to the throne, the status of his intended bride and the Princes in the Tower, and the attainder of Richard III. To learn more, head to my newsletter
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 AM
👨⚖️ OTD 1485, the First Tudor Parliament Opened, with the new king, Henry VII, seated upon his throne. Among the order of business was Henry's claim to the throne, the status of his intended bride and the Princes in the Tower, and the attainder of Richard III. To learn more, head to my newsletter
Reposted by Brain Simpson
A scene from the Totentanz - Dance of Death - in Bleibach, Germany, which dates to 1723, and still has all 34 scenes - made up of 33 couples and a skeletal band - along with the accompanying text, making it one of the most complete in Europe. This scene shows Death with the Burgher.
November 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A scene from the Totentanz - Dance of Death - in Bleibach, Germany, which dates to 1723, and still has all 34 scenes - made up of 33 couples and a skeletal band - along with the accompanying text, making it one of the most complete in Europe. This scene shows Death with the Burgher.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#otd 1605 Guy Fawkes found attempting to blow up parliament. Plotters wanted to make 9 yr old Princess Elizabeth queen. Perhaps inspired by idea of another reigning queen by reading Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 years of Female Monarchy? Thanks for endorsement… I suppose 😦 #womenwhoruledtheworld
November 5, 2025 at 8:16 AM
#otd 1605 Guy Fawkes found attempting to blow up parliament. Plotters wanted to make 9 yr old Princess Elizabeth queen. Perhaps inspired by idea of another reigning queen by reading Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 years of Female Monarchy? Thanks for endorsement… I suppose 😦 #womenwhoruledtheworld
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Born this day in 1592, in Utrecht, Gerrit van Honthorst. Known in Italy as Gherardo delle Notti for his A+ nighttime scenes, as here in 1620.
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Born this day in 1592, in Utrecht, Gerrit van Honthorst. Known in Italy as Gherardo delle Notti for his A+ nighttime scenes, as here in 1620.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
This coloured engraving by Johannes Kip was taken from a Leonard Knyff original. It depicts Madingley Hall’s highly formal Dutch gardens in circa 1705, before Lancelot Brown not only completely remodelled the gardens but also had the village beyond demolished & relocated so to not offend the view.
November 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This coloured engraving by Johannes Kip was taken from a Leonard Knyff original. It depicts Madingley Hall’s highly formal Dutch gardens in circa 1705, before Lancelot Brown not only completely remodelled the gardens but also had the village beyond demolished & relocated so to not offend the view.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The Reformation Parliament sat in 1529 & OTD in 1534 passed Act of Supremacy making Henry VIII & his successors Supreme Head of the Church of England,no longer subject to Rome. To disavow Act of Supremacy & deprived king of his "dignity, title, or name" treason. Thomas More was one of 1st victims.
November 3, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Reformation Parliament sat in 1529 & OTD in 1534 passed Act of Supremacy making Henry VIII & his successors Supreme Head of the Church of England,no longer subject to Rome. To disavow Act of Supremacy & deprived king of his "dignity, title, or name" treason. Thomas More was one of 1st victims.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#Halloween 🎃
In many churchyards, there were coffin-stiles where coffins were placed before being taken into the churchyard ⚰️
It was believed that Death would wait on his horse for three nights before claiming the life of any person 💀
📷 Llanfrynach Church
#Wales #History
In many churchyards, there were coffin-stiles where coffins were placed before being taken into the churchyard ⚰️
It was believed that Death would wait on his horse for three nights before claiming the life of any person 💀
📷 Llanfrynach Church
#Wales #History
October 31, 2025 at 7:59 PM
#Halloween 🎃
In many churchyards, there were coffin-stiles where coffins were placed before being taken into the churchyard ⚰️
It was believed that Death would wait on his horse for three nights before claiming the life of any person 💀
📷 Llanfrynach Church
#Wales #History
In many churchyards, there were coffin-stiles where coffins were placed before being taken into the churchyard ⚰️
It was believed that Death would wait on his horse for three nights before claiming the life of any person 💀
📷 Llanfrynach Church
#Wales #History
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#OTD in 1700, King Charles II of Spain died aged 38. The death of this tragic monarch kicked off the War of the Spanish Succession that would take many years and would lead to some territorial changes across Europe.
November 1, 2025 at 7:57 AM
#OTD in 1700, King Charles II of Spain died aged 38. The death of this tragic monarch kicked off the War of the Spanish Succession that would take many years and would lead to some territorial changes across Europe.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The 'Marie Antoinette Style' exhibition at the V&A is a stunner and well worth seeing if in London. Beautiful clothes and diamonds somewhat juxtaposed by the guillotine said to have killed her, and a book containing her final words written on the morning of her death.
October 30, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The 'Marie Antoinette Style' exhibition at the V&A is a stunner and well worth seeing if in London. Beautiful clothes and diamonds somewhat juxtaposed by the guillotine said to have killed her, and a book containing her final words written on the morning of her death.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
As Black History Month draws to a close, we thought we'd share this entry in a baptism register for Buckingham, April 1571. It features a 14 year old boy called Samson Aethiops, noting that he was born in Africa.
![A close up photograph of an entry in a parish register. It is written in Latin, with black ink on vellum. The text says:
Aprilis
Samson Aethiops nate in Africa Quaturodece
an[n]os natus baptizabate sexto die Wil[l]mo Palmer
Grato [gratus] Wil[l]mo Davies Clerico et Katherina
Pates susceptoribus
Translated, this means:
6 April 1571
Samson Aethiops born in Africa fourteen years born
baptised 6th day William Palmer
Gratious William Davis Clerk and Katherina Pates sponsors](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6xy5uc24pd5iuysvqqtbohds/bafkreif3w3rkk2se5mgk4322kr3x4rbus7z7krfixx2u5ifn5e23z7qt4e@jpeg)
October 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
As Black History Month draws to a close, we thought we'd share this entry in a baptism register for Buckingham, April 1571. It features a 14 year old boy called Samson Aethiops, noting that he was born in Africa.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
On this day in 1611 — days before the first recorded performance of Shakespeare’s Tempest — the inauguration of a new Lord Mayor of London involved an elaborate pageant featuring English subjects dressed up as Indigenous Americans ‘from the rich and Golden Indian mines’. #goldenworld
October 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
On this day in 1611 — days before the first recorded performance of Shakespeare’s Tempest — the inauguration of a new Lord Mayor of London involved an elaborate pageant featuring English subjects dressed up as Indigenous Americans ‘from the rich and Golden Indian mines’. #goldenworld
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Just a 1399 unicorn watermark from a paper manufacturer from Valencia to make your day. Friends of #paperhistory know that these paper sheets of around 1400 are among the first sheets of European paper to appear on the market. European #bookhistory was a different game afterwards. #skystorians
October 25, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Just a 1399 unicorn watermark from a paper manufacturer from Valencia to make your day. Friends of #paperhistory know that these paper sheets of around 1400 are among the first sheets of European paper to appear on the market. European #bookhistory was a different game afterwards. #skystorians
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Charter of John Balliol 'heir of the kingdom of Scotland' granting manors in northern England to the warlike bishop of Durham Antony Bek, 15 November 1290. LFC Ch XXX 7. #medievalsky
October 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Charter of John Balliol 'heir of the kingdom of Scotland' granting manors in northern England to the warlike bishop of Durham Antony Bek, 15 November 1290. LFC Ch XXX 7. #medievalsky
Reposted by Brain Simpson
In 1521 the great artist Albrecht Dürer wasn't feeling so great, so he send a picture to hist physician with the text;
“Do wo der gelb fleck is und mit dem finger drawff dewt do is mir we” (Translation: There where the yellow spot is and the finger points, there it hurts me).
“Do wo der gelb fleck is und mit dem finger drawff dewt do is mir we” (Translation: There where the yellow spot is and the finger points, there it hurts me).
October 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
In 1521 the great artist Albrecht Dürer wasn't feeling so great, so he send a picture to hist physician with the text;
“Do wo der gelb fleck is und mit dem finger drawff dewt do is mir we” (Translation: There where the yellow spot is and the finger points, there it hurts me).
“Do wo der gelb fleck is und mit dem finger drawff dewt do is mir we” (Translation: There where the yellow spot is and the finger points, there it hurts me).
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Such empathy with these huddled beasts on a 10th/11thC whalebone chesspiece, perhaps a rook or a bishop, snuggling up against cold and damp autumn days…
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
October 19, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Such empathy with these huddled beasts on a 10th/11thC whalebone chesspiece, perhaps a rook or a bishop, snuggling up against cold and damp autumn days…
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Reposted by Brain Simpson
One of my two favourite items in @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Treasured exhibition. This beautifully decorated gospel book belonged to St Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Malcolm III & great-niece of Edward the Confessor. Late 11thC. Purchased by the library in 1887 for just £6 #stmargaret #treasured #queen
October 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
One of my two favourite items in @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Treasured exhibition. This beautifully decorated gospel book belonged to St Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Malcolm III & great-niece of Edward the Confessor. Late 11thC. Purchased by the library in 1887 for just £6 #stmargaret #treasured #queen
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The mastery of artist Harry Wingfield.
‘Cake’
(Yes, it is a painting - from Third Picture Book, 1971)
‘Cake’
(Yes, it is a painting - from Third Picture Book, 1971)
October 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The mastery of artist Harry Wingfield.
‘Cake’
(Yes, it is a painting - from Third Picture Book, 1971)
‘Cake’
(Yes, it is a painting - from Third Picture Book, 1971)