Tuija Ainonen
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tainonen.bsky.social
Tuija Ainonen
@tainonen.bsky.social
1.9K followers 810 following 86 posts
Medieval and early modern manuscripts and libraries

Sub-Librarian / Special Collections Librarian at The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social

My posts, my views and interests - not my employer's
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tainonen.bsky.social
John W. Baldwin Post-Doctoral Fellowship (at UCLA's CMRS Center for Early Global Studies) for a recent Ph.D. whose work focuses on European medieval studies within the global comparative context

Application opens tomorrow 15 August 2025

recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10513
August 14, 2025 at 8:53 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
The coming Sunday is Pentecost a.k.a. Whitsunday, commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit

1390s artist in Avignon decorated a Book of Hours with the highlight moment; the MS is now in the Parker Library as CCCC MS 540, f. 159r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...

#MedievalSky #MedievalMSS
Medieval manuscript page with two thirds page framed miniature of Pentecost set against a blue ground with gold stars. White dove representing the Holy Spirit spews red inspirational lines to each head gathered around a central figure dressed in blue robe lined in red. Scale of faces is off, with the people in the background having larger faces than the people in the foreground. There is a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves with interlace at the corners. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves. Corpus Christi College Cambridge, MS 540, folio 159r
June 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Look at this cutie 😍

Another six-winged angel from the Parker Library's collection

Maybe not as professional representation but certainly very endearing.

CCCC MS 459, f. 109r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Endearing angel drawn in black ink. It is a later addition by an artist arguably still practicing thier skill. It represents the memoryaid for the treatise on the Six Wings of Cherubs by Alain of Lille that follows. Image: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 459, f. 109r https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/canvas-c86ba400670a0a02d03f76c849aeeb95
May 16, 2025 at 11:08 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
Can't beat a good frill!

Unless perhaps you offer TWO sweet ligatures
16th century handwriting with c-t ligature in the centre Sample from Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 645 16th century handwriting with s-t ligature in the centre Sample from Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 645
January 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Rooster and Fox with Wolf and Stork squished inside the initial S for Simon

Beautifully illuminated 12thC Bible with artistic similarities to Northern French or Flemish MSS, fully available to browse online

The Dover Bible (vol. II), now CCCC MS 004, f. 240r
tinyurl.com/aze4fwwr
#medievalMSS
Golden large letter S with a red rooster and a fox in the upper loop, and wolf and crane in the lower loop Image taken from The Parker Library On the Web. Manuscript excerpt shows the folio and shelfmark reference in the upper register, and the information buttons on the left of the page
December 10, 2024 at 12:36 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Cats exercising their cat-ness through history 😺🐾
#InternationalCatDay

Even on important and defining statements of doctrines and practices of the Church of England in the 39 Articles from the collection of archbishop Matthew Parker (d. 1575)

CCCC MS 121, p. 433
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Two black pawprints in the margins of the original English handwritten version of 39 articles, now in CCCC MS 121, p. 433
August 8, 2024 at 5:28 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Temp Librarian post (9mo, 0.8FTE) at Wells Cathedral but a permanent librarian will be needed down the line [small warning, salary ain't the drawing factor]

DL: 18 July 2024

www.wellscathedral.org.uk/your-cathedr...

Perhaps worth to contact for further discussions if seriously interested? 📜
Chained library book on a reading desk. Wells Cathedral.
July 9, 2024 at 5:31 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Four days of medievalist fun at Leeds #IMC2024

Massive family reunion vibes, looking forward to catching up with old friends and getting to know some new too!
July 1, 2024 at 10:12 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
E is for Edward & excellent foliage in 14thC copies of 2 significant legal documents

Magna Carta (1215) and Charter of the Forest (1217)

Both in CCCC MS 377: English Statutes (ff. 9r, 12r)
Online and free - check it out! parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...

#MedievalManuscripts #LegalHistory 📜
14th century copy of Magna Carta in a manuscript book on English Law. Starts with coloured large initial E that contains foliage decoration on gold background. Now: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 377, f. 9r 14th century copy of Charter of the forest in a manuscript book on English Law. Starts with large blue initial E that contains foliage outlined in red background. Now: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 377, f. 12r
May 29, 2024 at 3:51 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Flower explosion in the margins of a 15thC Ordinal and Martyrology of Exeter Cathedral

Now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 093

Explore & be awed!
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...

#StGeorgesDay #WorldBookDay #DiadaDeSantJordi
April 23, 2024 at 10:57 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
Happy Friendship Day, whether you celebrate it or not!

Here's to all of us who give awkwardly friendly hugs!

Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 180 f. 1r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalsky #
Two devils embrace in the margins of Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 180 f. 1r
February 14, 2024 at 8:50 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
Help!

What is "out."?
(see l.3 and l.5)

Apparatus Criticus & an abbreviation I don't get. Any medieval textual critics out there?
#MedievalSky
January 12, 2024 at 2:45 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Parent showing how to play with the Christmas toys while child patiently admires and waits their turn.

We all know how this one is going to end.

Glossed Psalter, c. 1220 (East of England)
CCCC MS 75, f. 184
stanford.io/3NEom0P
Bearded man in the centre, dressed in blue, red and gold points to a stack of building blocks assembled to a high structure on the right. On the left, a child waits their turn.
December 22, 2023 at 12:10 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Leeds IMC 2024 - here I come!

If you want to hear insider scoops on medieval manuscripts in digital repositories, don't miss these two sessions!
@bodleianlibraries.bsky.social @liber-ray.bsky.social @matthewholford.bsky.social
Snapshot of the scheduled timeslots for two Round Table sessions at the Leeds IMC 2024, both involving discussion on medieval manuscripts and digitial catalogues and libraries
December 6, 2023 at 2:40 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Book and Manuscript Conservators have all my admiration and respect!

Here's a neat example what the team did to "The Boke Named the Royall" from 1507 (now in King’s College Library, Cambridge)

tinyurl.com/3n9xebap
December 6, 2023 at 1:09 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Good morning!
Sun is shining in this MS of alchemical texts copied partly in the early 15thC and partly in the late 15th-early 16thC "Tractatus de virtutibus lunariae"

CCCC MS 395, f. 49v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#MedievalSky
Red sun with curvy rays and a face that looks like it has just woken up
November 6, 2023 at 9:57 AM
tainonen.bsky.social
3. The youngest of the copies of Parker Library's William Rubruck, Itinerarium is CCCC MS 407 (ff. 37r-68v), early 15thC copy
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Two line rubric in red ink followed by initial E in blue with red decorative elements flowing in and around the letter. Several lines of 15th century text that has red highlights
November 1, 2023 at 6:11 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
2. Next in order of age is CCCC MS 66A (67r-110r), early 14thC copy with Franciscans and books in the illuminated initial.

parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Illuminated initial E with upper compartment portraying two friars offering a book to a king with a red crown; in the lower compartment two friars with staves carry a red book each
November 1, 2023 at 6:05 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
William of Rubruck (OFM, fl. 1255) wrote an account of his travels in the Middle East and Central Asia; "Itinerarium ad partes orientales" survives in 4 main MSS - and 3 of them are in @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social

1. Oldest is MS 181 (pp. 321-400), late 13thC
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Decorated initial in red and blue at the beginning of the text for William of Rubruck OFM, Itinerarium ad partes orientales
November 1, 2023 at 5:58 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
'Vespertiliones' from the Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary

#HappyHalloween

c. 1300
CCCC MS 53, f. 202r
Three bats on gold background with a pink frame.
October 31, 2023 at 1:52 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
4

or
5. the oblivious tipsy demon
CCCC MS 20, f. 19v IIIF image annotation from catalogue site: "The locusts and their leader, Abaddon, a huge demon. Very effective." Locusts are crowned, have human faces, bat wings and horses hooves. Huge demon sticks out their tongue.
October 30, 2023 at 6:59 PM
tainonen.bsky.social
Medieval charter catalogue of the Bodleian collections at Oxford is live!
charters.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

It might be useful to check the 'About page' section to understand the complexity of what is searchable and what is not.

Or, just dive in and find your favourite place!
October 27, 2023 at 4:48 PM