Cambridge UL Special Collections
@theulspeccoll.bsky.social
Cambridge University Library Special Collections, featuring our manuscripts, archives, maps, music, rare books, photographs, objects and more. https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/special-collections
Excellent new guest blog post from @jwscolley.bsky.social on "A Lost Ballad Found: Rediscovering a Jephthah Ballad in the Norton Collection". Read all about it here: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31034
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Excellent new guest blog post from @jwscolley.bsky.social on "A Lost Ballad Found: Rediscovering a Jephthah Ballad in the Norton Collection". Read all about it here: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31034
One of our favourite student seminars of the year, looking at Venetian Sessa imprints with cats!
November 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
One of our favourite student seminars of the year, looking at Venetian Sessa imprints with cats!
Skeletons for #Halloween, from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493). About the least rare rare book in existence (we have 5 copies) but this one hand-coloured and part of a donation made in 1574 by Elizabeth I's Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker. CUL Inc.0.A.7.2[888].
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Skeletons for #Halloween, from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493). About the least rare rare book in existence (we have 5 copies) but this one hand-coloured and part of a donation made in 1574 by Elizabeth I's Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker. CUL Inc.0.A.7.2[888].
A great visit this morning from delegates at the 'Craft, Texture, & Aesthetics of Letter Forms' conference, to visit our Historical Printing Room & see a range of materials from our collection, including John Baskerville specimens, the Kelmscott Chaucer, & woodblocks & designs by Reynolds Stone!
September 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
A great visit this morning from delegates at the 'Craft, Texture, & Aesthetics of Letter Forms' conference, to visit our Historical Printing Room & see a range of materials from our collection, including John Baskerville specimens, the Kelmscott Chaucer, & woodblocks & designs by Reynolds Stone!
Francis Jenkinson, University Librarian at Cambridge between 1889 and 1923, was born on this day in 1853. Here he seems to have found time away from his books & entomological specimens to have fun with a well-behaved dog. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Portraits.c.71.
August 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Francis Jenkinson, University Librarian at Cambridge between 1889 and 1923, was born on this day in 1853. Here he seems to have found time away from his books & entomological specimens to have fun with a well-behaved dog. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Portraits.c.71.
Archbishop Matthew Parker was born #OTD in 1504. He left the bulk of his collection to @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social but in 1574 gave us 100 books, including this new edition of the Gospels in Anglo Saxon type (1571). The notes are by Abraham Wheelock, first Cambridge Professor of Arabic. CUL 1.24.9.
August 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Archbishop Matthew Parker was born #OTD in 1504. He left the bulk of his collection to @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social but in 1574 gave us 100 books, including this new edition of the Gospels in Anglo Saxon type (1571). The notes are by Abraham Wheelock, first Cambridge Professor of Arabic. CUL 1.24.9.
Our latest blog features a recent acquisition: a Parisian journal, in medieval style, inspired by the 1900 Paris Exposition. Read all about it here: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30510
August 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Our latest blog features a recent acquisition: a Parisian journal, in medieval style, inspired by the 1900 Paris Exposition. Read all about it here: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30510
Thanks to @orkneylibrary.bsky.social we are aware that today is #CowAppreciationDay! Our collection includes this glorious early twentieth-century book of children's poetry (marketed as 'untearable'), entitled simply 'MOO COWS'. @theul.bsky.social 1907.11.60. 🐮
July 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Thanks to @orkneylibrary.bsky.social we are aware that today is #CowAppreciationDay! Our collection includes this glorious early twentieth-century book of children's poetry (marketed as 'untearable'), entitled simply 'MOO COWS'. @theul.bsky.social 1907.11.60. 🐮
Our latest blog, by Munby Fellow Dr Joshua Fitzgerald, focuses on nineteenth-century efforts to translate the Bible into Nahuatl (or Mexican). Read it here! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30409
July 8, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Our latest blog, by Munby Fellow Dr Joshua Fitzgerald, focuses on nineteenth-century efforts to translate the Bible into Nahuatl (or Mexican). Read it here! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30409
Our latest blog post is by Beckett Thornber (MA Conservation Studies student @westdean.ac.uk) who has constructed a model of a late medieval folded manuscript, inspired by an example in our Curious Cures exhibition on medieval medicine! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30259&prev...
June 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Our latest blog post is by Beckett Thornber (MA Conservation Studies student @westdean.ac.uk) who has constructed a model of a late medieval folded manuscript, inspired by an example in our Curious Cures exhibition on medieval medicine! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30259&prev...
The French theologian Theodore Beza was born #OTD in 1519. In 1581 he presented us with one of our greatest treasures, the so-called Codex Bezae: a manuscript of the New Testament in Greek & Latin, written around the year 400 & therefore one of the earliest surviving Biblical manuscripts. (1/2)
June 24, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The French theologian Theodore Beza was born #OTD in 1519. In 1581 he presented us with one of our greatest treasures, the so-called Codex Bezae: a manuscript of the New Testament in Greek & Latin, written around the year 400 & therefore one of the earliest surviving Biblical manuscripts. (1/2)
Mumtaz Mahal, empress consort of the Mughal Empire, died #OTD in 1631. This little pamphlet (costing sixpence) was issued in 1823 to coincide with the display in London of an ivory model of the Taj Mahal, her funerary monument. CUL Pam.5.82.155.
June 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Mumtaz Mahal, empress consort of the Mughal Empire, died #OTD in 1631. This little pamphlet (costing sixpence) was issued in 1823 to coincide with the display in London of an ivory model of the Taj Mahal, her funerary monument. CUL Pam.5.82.155.
Curiously, Joan of Arc & Voltaire died #OTD (1431 & 1778). Voltaire composed 'La Pucelle d'Orleans' (the Maid of Orleans) to satirise the not yet canonised Joan & its bawdy content saw it banned in large parts of Europe. This early edition (1762) is illustrated with plates by Gravelot. Syn.6.76.5.
May 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Curiously, Joan of Arc & Voltaire died #OTD (1431 & 1778). Voltaire composed 'La Pucelle d'Orleans' (the Maid of Orleans) to satirise the not yet canonised Joan & its bawdy content saw it banned in large parts of Europe. This early edition (1762) is illustrated with plates by Gravelot. Syn.6.76.5.
It's Ascension Day, commemorating the Christian belief of the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven. Our MS Dd.4.17, a 14th-century Book of Hours probably made in the East Midlands, has a great image of Jesus' feet about to disappear into a cloud. cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DD-0... #ascensionday
May 29, 2025 at 8:47 AM
It's Ascension Day, commemorating the Christian belief of the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven. Our MS Dd.4.17, a 14th-century Book of Hours probably made in the East Midlands, has a great image of Jesus' feet about to disappear into a cloud. cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DD-0... #ascensionday
Lovely visit yesterday from a group of Australian Jane Austen enthusiasts, who enjoyed seeing a variety of first editions, a book from Jane's own library, and a letter in her own hand. Plus, of course, 'Jane Austen in Australia'! #janeausten
May 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Lovely visit yesterday from a group of Australian Jane Austen enthusiasts, who enjoyed seeing a variety of first editions, a book from Jane's own library, and a letter in her own hand. Plus, of course, 'Jane Austen in Australia'! #janeausten
In our latest blog, @ciditcharlotte.bsky.social talks about her engagement with a fifteenth-century manuscript of Christine de Pizan, now @newnhamcollege.bsky.social & recently digitised @camdiglib.bsky.social. specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30146
May 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
In our latest blog, @ciditcharlotte.bsky.social talks about her engagement with a fifteenth-century manuscript of Christine de Pizan, now @newnhamcollege.bsky.social & recently digitised @camdiglib.bsky.social. specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30146
Beautiful botanical details inside & out in this recent acquisition from @quaritch1847.bsky.social: Henrietta Moriarty's 'Viridarium: coloured plates of
greenhouse plants' (London, 1806), produced in part to free her from destitution after the early death of her dissolute husband. CUL 8000.d.1621.
greenhouse plants' (London, 1806), produced in part to free her from destitution after the early death of her dissolute husband. CUL 8000.d.1621.
May 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Beautiful botanical details inside & out in this recent acquisition from @quaritch1847.bsky.social: Henrietta Moriarty's 'Viridarium: coloured plates of
greenhouse plants' (London, 1806), produced in part to free her from destitution after the early death of her dissolute husband. CUL 8000.d.1621.
greenhouse plants' (London, 1806), produced in part to free her from destitution after the early death of her dissolute husband. CUL 8000.d.1621.
Bede, the English monk & scholar, died #OTD in 735. We are privileged to look after the earliest known copy of his 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People', made in the middle of the 8th century & possibly as early as 737. Digitized in full! #bede cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-KK-0...
May 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Bede, the English monk & scholar, died #OTD in 735. We are privileged to look after the earliest known copy of his 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People', made in the middle of the 8th century & possibly as early as 737. Digitized in full! #bede cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-KK-0...
Queen Charlotte was born #OTD in 1744. The Queen was a keen collector of books & had a printing press at her country retreat, Frogmore House at Windsor. Edward Harding was her printer & he produced this limited edition (30 copies) of German poetry in 1812, with a vignette of the house. S746.d.81.5
May 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Queen Charlotte was born #OTD in 1744. The Queen was a keen collector of books & had a printing press at her country retreat, Frogmore House at Windsor. Edward Harding was her printer & he produced this limited edition (30 copies) of German poetry in 1812, with a vignette of the house. S746.d.81.5
The first Pope Leo, known as Leo the Great, who reigned 440-461 & was the first #Pope to be buried in St Peter's Basilica. This copy of his sermons (printed at #Venice in 1482) carries this portrait by the Pico Master, appropriately within an initial L for Laudem. CUL Inc.3.B.3.43[1499]. #popeleo
May 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The typographer Stanley Morison was born #OTD in 1889. We are lucky to look after his personal library & archive, including the gold medal he was awarded by @bibsoc.bsky.social in 1948 'for distinguished services to bibliography'. One side carries the image of a scribe; the other a printing press.
May 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
The typographer Stanley Morison was born #OTD in 1889. We are lucky to look after his personal library & archive, including the gold medal he was awarded by @bibsoc.bsky.social in 1948 'for distinguished services to bibliography'. One side carries the image of a scribe; the other a printing press.
It is the feast day of the Italian mystic St Catherine of Siena, who died #OTD in 1380 at the age of 33. This woodcut of Catherine illustrates the edition of her Letters printed in Venice by Aldus Manutius in September 1500. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.2.B.3.134[4581].
April 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It is the feast day of the Italian mystic St Catherine of Siena, who died #OTD in 1380 at the age of 33. This woodcut of Catherine illustrates the edition of her Letters printed in Venice by Aldus Manutius in September 1500. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.2.B.3.134[4581].
William #Shakespeare was (possibly) born #OTD in 1564 & died #OTD in 1616. We look after a tobacco stopper carved into his likeness, which may be one of the many tourist souvenirs made from a mulberry tree cut down in Shakespeare's Stratford garden in the 1750s.
April 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
William #Shakespeare was (possibly) born #OTD in 1564 & died #OTD in 1616. We look after a tobacco stopper carved into his likeness, which may be one of the many tourist souvenirs made from a mulberry tree cut down in Shakespeare's Stratford garden in the 1750s.
So, it's Elizabethan England, and you need to know how to cure STDs, extract bullets, and live to be a hundred? Well, we have got the manuscript for you. Read more in our new #CuriousCures blogpost:
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=29988
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=29988
April 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
So, it's Elizabethan England, and you need to know how to cure STDs, extract bullets, and live to be a hundred? Well, we have got the manuscript for you. Read more in our new #CuriousCures blogpost:
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=29988
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=29988
Lovely to share some of the Madden ballads (30,000 bits of single-sheet printing from the 18/19thC) with a group from London today, planning a walk around sites where the printers or their stories were based.
April 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Lovely to share some of the Madden ballads (30,000 bits of single-sheet printing from the 18/19thC) with a group from London today, planning a walk around sites where the printers or their stories were based.