Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
@sims-mss.bsky.social
We post about manuscripts, mostly from UPenn. SIMS brings manuscript culture, modern technology and people together.
https://schoenberginstitute.org/
https://schoenberginstitute.org/
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Welcome, welcome! Thank you for following the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies. We're in the Kislak Center at Penn Libraries in Philadelphia, and we have manuscripts! We post every other day, mostly little videos. If you, too, think manuscripts are neat, we hope you'll enjoy our offerings
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.
- Mary Oliver, "Wild Geese"
A goose heads home in the bottom margin of f. 312v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
- Mary Oliver, "Wild Geese"
A goose heads home in the bottom margin of f. 312v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
November 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.
- Mary Oliver, "Wild Geese"
A goose heads home in the bottom margin of f. 312v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
- Mary Oliver, "Wild Geese"
A goose heads home in the bottom margin of f. 312v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
Sometimes your parchment is imperfect, but you use it anyway. This leaf has a large hole that was caused during the processing of the animal skin. Part of the hole was sewn up using thick thread, and then the scribe just wrote around it. (UPenn Ms. Codex 747) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WqLDYc
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WqLDYc
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Sometimes your parchment is imperfect, but you use it anyway. This leaf has a large hole that was caused during the processing of the animal skin. Part of the hole was sewn up using thick thread, and then the scribe just wrote around it. (UPenn Ms. Codex 747) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WqLDYc
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WqLDYc
For #CoffeeWithACodex on November 13 (12pm ET, Zoom), @leoba.bsky.social will bring out LJS 101, the oldest codex in Philadelphia! It includes a translation of Aristotle's De interpretatione by Boethius. Written in France ca. 850 and ca. 1000. #medievalsky
Register here: https://bit.ly/3JvfKuI
Register here: https://bit.ly/3JvfKuI
Coffee with a Codex: Boethius & Aristotle
An informal lunch or coffee time to meet virtually with Kislak curators and talk about one of the manuscripts from Penn's collections. Each week we'll feature a different...
bit.ly
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on November 13 (12pm ET, Zoom), @leoba.bsky.social will bring out LJS 101, the oldest codex in Philadelphia! It includes a translation of Aristotle's De interpretatione by Boethius. Written in France ca. 850 and ca. 1000. #medievalsky
Register here: https://bit.ly/3JvfKuI
Register here: https://bit.ly/3JvfKuI
Today’s #FragmentFriday is from the binding of LJS 470, which is a 16th century Italian collection, written in Hebrew, of medical and magical texts. The fragments are deep in the spine, and haven’t been cataloged or identified. Can you tell what this is? #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/43GkrIS
🔗: https://bit.ly/43GkrIS
November 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Today’s #FragmentFriday is from the binding of LJS 470, which is a 16th century Italian collection, written in Hebrew, of medical and magical texts. The fragments are deep in the spine, and haven’t been cataloged or identified. Can you tell what this is? #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/43GkrIS
🔗: https://bit.ly/43GkrIS
This 15th c. Italian manuscript contains the texts of two treatises, both attributed to Saint Augustine (erroneously). One is actually De anima et spiritu by Alcherus of Clairvaux, the other one is unidentified (UPenn Ms. Codex 17) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WYaouZ
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WYaouZ
November 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This 15th c. Italian manuscript contains the texts of two treatises, both attributed to Saint Augustine (erroneously). One is actually De anima et spiritu by Alcherus of Clairvaux, the other one is unidentified (UPenn Ms. Codex 17) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WYaouZ
🔗: https://bit.ly/3WYaouZ
This little manuscript contains a treatise on cosmography that describes and illustrates the Ptolemaic model of a spherical earth at the center of the concentric spheres of the universe, and includes diagrams of eclipses and an astrolabe (UPenn LJS 26) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/41EAKFa
🔗: https://bit.ly/41EAKFa
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
This little manuscript contains a treatise on cosmography that describes and illustrates the Ptolemaic model of a spherical earth at the center of the concentric spheres of the universe, and includes diagrams of eclipses and an astrolabe (UPenn LJS 26) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/41EAKFa
🔗: https://bit.ly/41EAKFa
For #CoffeeWithACodex on November 6 (12pm ET, Zoom), Lawrence J. Schoenberg Curator Nick Herman will bring out Ms. Codex 2324, a Flemish illuminated book of hours including 6 full-page arched miniatures and 15 historiated initials on gold grounds. #medievalsky
Register here: https://bit.ly/48JljzY
Register here: https://bit.ly/48JljzY
Coffee with a Codex: Flemish Book of Hours
An informal lunch or coffee time to meet virtually with Kislak curators and talk about one of the manuscripts from Penn's collections. Each week we'll feature a different...
bit.ly
November 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on November 6 (12pm ET, Zoom), Lawrence J. Schoenberg Curator Nick Herman will bring out Ms. Codex 2324, a Flemish illuminated book of hours including 6 full-page arched miniatures and 15 historiated initials on gold grounds. #medievalsky
Register here: https://bit.ly/48JljzY
Register here: https://bit.ly/48JljzY
This small manuscript contains a few texts, including the Speculum monachorum, attributed (incorrectly) to Bernard of Clairvaux. The first folio has a colorful, illuminated Madonna and child. It was written in France in the 13th century. (UPenn Ms. Codex 716) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/4ht3NlX
🔗: https://bit.ly/4ht3NlX
November 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
This small manuscript contains a few texts, including the Speculum monachorum, attributed (incorrectly) to Bernard of Clairvaux. The first folio has a colorful, illuminated Madonna and child. It was written in France in the 13th century. (UPenn Ms. Codex 716) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/4ht3NlX
🔗: https://bit.ly/4ht3NlX
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
A lonely owl sings in the bottom margin of f. 312r, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
A lonely owl sings in the bottom margin of f. 312r, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
October 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
A lonely owl sings in the bottom margin of f. 312r, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
A lonely owl sings in the bottom margin of f. 312r, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
The genealogy of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, tracing his descent from the earls of Leicester and Chester, beginning with individuals of the 11th and 12th centuries, and providing the heraldic devices of the principal members of these families. (UPenn Ms. Codex 1070)
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qvHgsK
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qvHgsK
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The genealogy of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, tracing his descent from the earls of Leicester and Chester, beginning with individuals of the 11th and 12th centuries, and providing the heraldic devices of the principal members of these families. (UPenn Ms. Codex 1070)
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qvHgsK
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qvHgsK
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 30 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out LJS 266, a collection of genealogical and chronicle material in Middle French, written in France between 1440 and 1460. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4qHymbR
Register here: https://bit.ly/4qHymbR
Coffee with a Codex: Genealogy
An informal lunch or coffee time to meet virtually with Kislak curators and talk about one of the manuscripts from Penn's collections. Each week we'll feature a different...
bit.ly
October 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 30 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out LJS 266, a collection of genealogical and chronicle material in Middle French, written in France between 1440 and 1460. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4qHymbR
Register here: https://bit.ly/4qHymbR
This early 16th century collection of papal letters dealing with the Eremite Friars of St. Augustine has a secret - a scrap of unidentified earlier manuscript that lurks in the depths of the spine. What could it be? We don’t know. (UPenn Ms. Codex 85) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/473znDa
🔗: https://bit.ly/473znDa
October 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
This early 16th century collection of papal letters dealing with the Eremite Friars of St. Augustine has a secret - a scrap of unidentified earlier manuscript that lurks in the depths of the spine. What could it be? We don’t know. (UPenn Ms. Codex 85) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/473znDa
🔗: https://bit.ly/473znDa
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
So pretty! #bookhistory
Take a look at this 12th century collection of works by Augustine. It's written in a clear transitional (or protogothic) script by 4 different hands, and is simply decorated with large initials in red. Look for a mend in the parchment! (UPenn Ms. Codex 708) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
October 22, 2025 at 9:28 PM
So pretty! #bookhistory
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Social media was invented for this sort of thing:
This Missal (Texts for the Mass), written in Gothic textualis script, contains a few large red and blue initials with penwork, and a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion. The binding is very early; it may even be original. Northern Italy, 1375-1425 (UPenn Ms. Codex 2053)
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
October 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Social media was invented for this sort of thing:
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
We had a great time kicking off #OAWeek with a panel of Penn Press journal editors (including from Change Over Time, @easmisc.bsky.social, @thejqr.bsky.social, and @sims-mss.bsky.social's Manuscript Studies) discussing their experiences with and thoughts on Open Access publishing!
October 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
We had a great time kicking off #OAWeek with a panel of Penn Press journal editors (including from Change Over Time, @easmisc.bsky.social, @thejqr.bsky.social, and @sims-mss.bsky.social's Manuscript Studies) discussing their experiences with and thoughts on Open Access publishing!
Take a look at this 12th century collection of works by Augustine. It's written in a clear transitional (or protogothic) script by 4 different hands, and is simply decorated with large initials in red. Look for a mend in the parchment! (UPenn Ms. Codex 708) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
October 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Take a look at this 12th century collection of works by Augustine. It's written in a clear transitional (or protogothic) script by 4 different hands, and is simply decorated with large initials in red. Look for a mend in the parchment! (UPenn Ms. Codex 708) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
🔗: https://bit.ly/471CL1p
This Missal (Texts for the Mass), written in Gothic textualis script, contains a few large red and blue initials with penwork, and a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion. The binding is very early; it may even be original. Northern Italy, 1375-1425 (UPenn Ms. Codex 2053)
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
October 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This Missal (Texts for the Mass), written in Gothic textualis script, contains a few large red and blue initials with penwork, and a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion. The binding is very early; it may even be original. Northern Italy, 1375-1425 (UPenn Ms. Codex 2053)
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qbm2A9
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 23 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his administration and institution of prayer customs for the Sephardim in England.. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Coffee with a Codex: Sephardim in England
For Coffee With A Codex on October 23, Judaica Special Collections Cataloging Librarian Louis Meiselman will bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his...
bit.ly
October 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 23 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his administration and institution of prayer customs for the Sephardim in England.. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Photos of a manuscript containing Statutes in 151 chapters of the Order of the Ship, founded in Naples in 1381 by King Carlo III 'di Durazzo'. The Order was a secular order of knighthood in the Kingdom of Naples founded and dedicated to the Holy Trinity #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3INiWBI
🔗: https://bit.ly/3INiWBI
October 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Photos of a manuscript containing Statutes in 151 chapters of the Order of the Ship, founded in Naples in 1381 by King Carlo III 'di Durazzo'. The Order was a secular order of knighthood in the Kingdom of Naples founded and dedicated to the Holy Trinity #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3INiWBI
🔗: https://bit.ly/3INiWBI
Woof? A strangely wyrm-like doggy waits patiently in the top margin of f. 311v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
October 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Woof? A strangely wyrm-like doggy waits patiently in the top margin of f. 311v, Ms. Codex 724, a 13th century illuminated Bible #DrolleryDonnerstag #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
🔗: https://bit.ly/4gNmqRc
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Grey day in Paris just became brighter as I read in Manuscript Studies of @sims-mss.bsky.social the very first review of my book 'Lost but not forgotten' published by @tayoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk. Thank You!
Link to the review:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/56/artic...
Link to the review:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/56/artic...
muse.jhu.edu
October 15, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Grey day in Paris just became brighter as I read in Manuscript Studies of @sims-mss.bsky.social the very first review of my book 'Lost but not forgotten' published by @tayoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk. Thank You!
Link to the review:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/56/artic...
Link to the review:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/56/artic...
Today's manuscript contains hymns and prayers bound with slightly later printed pastoral works. It contains prayers in Latin with interlinear German, each followed by a German translation, with some marginal notes. Germany, late 15th c. (UPenn Ms. Codex 1604) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3Xd1Voy
🔗: https://bit.ly/3Xd1Voy
October 14, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Today's manuscript contains hymns and prayers bound with slightly later printed pastoral works. It contains prayers in Latin with interlinear German, each followed by a German translation, with some marginal notes. Germany, late 15th c. (UPenn Ms. Codex 1604) #medievalsky
🔗: https://bit.ly/3Xd1Voy
🔗: https://bit.ly/3Xd1Voy
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Performatively reading in the cafe, but wearing white gloves so I'm still venerating the Book As Object, with a t-shirt saying "I know archivists don't wear gloves" so people know the gloves are performative.
October 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Performatively reading in the cafe, but wearing white gloves so I'm still venerating the Book As Object, with a t-shirt saying "I know archivists don't wear gloves" so people know the gloves are performative.
Reposted by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
Where are your gloves?
Where are your gloves?
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 12, 2025 at 11:13 PM
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
Where are your gloves?
Where are your gloves?
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 16, Curator @leoba.bsky.social will visit @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social where she'll join Librarian Elizabeth Fuller for a look at MS 1004/29, a mid-fourteenth-century physician's belt book. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4ohnEqu
Register here: https://bit.ly/4ohnEqu
Coffee with a Codex On The Road: Bat Book at the Rosenbach
An informal lunch or coffee time to meet virtually with Kislak curators and talk about one of the manuscripts from Penn's collections. Each week we'll feature a different...
bit.ly
October 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 16, Curator @leoba.bsky.social will visit @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social where she'll join Librarian Elizabeth Fuller for a look at MS 1004/29, a mid-fourteenth-century physician's belt book. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4ohnEqu
Register here: https://bit.ly/4ohnEqu