University of Reading Special Collections
@uorspeccoll.bsky.social
Sharing treasures from our Special Collections, Rare Books and Archives.
Website: https://collections.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/
Enquiries: specialcollections@reading.ac.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/unirdg_collections
Website: https://collections.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/
Enquiries: specialcollections@reading.ac.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/unirdg_collections
We’ve been busy with university teaching sessions this week across the building. Our first year history students looked across our collections for some primary sources, and our third year history placement students took part in an exhibition workshop using our Children’s Collection material.
November 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
We’ve been busy with university teaching sessions this week across the building. Our first year history students looked across our collections for some primary sources, and our third year history placement students took part in an exhibition workshop using our Children’s Collection material.
How can our library collections shed light on student life at @uniofreading.bsky.social ?
The University’s centenary is fast approaching, as Claudia Ricci explores early college journals & newspapers that offer valuable insight into the University’s past: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
The University’s centenary is fast approaching, as Claudia Ricci explores early college journals & newspapers that offer valuable insight into the University’s past: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
How can our library collections shed light on student life at @uniofreading.bsky.social ?
The University’s centenary is fast approaching, as Claudia Ricci explores early college journals & newspapers that offer valuable insight into the University’s past: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
The University’s centenary is fast approaching, as Claudia Ricci explores early college journals & newspapers that offer valuable insight into the University’s past: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
University of Reading Special Collections and @themerl.bsky.social have arrived at History Day 2025! Come and have a go at our badge making. We’re really excited to look at all the other stalls too! #histday25 @ihr.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
University of Reading Special Collections and @themerl.bsky.social have arrived at History Day 2025! Come and have a go at our badge making. We’re really excited to look at all the other stalls too! #histday25 @ihr.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social
Happy Halloween!🎃
In his poem “All Souls’ Night”, W.B. Yeats calls on the memory of his lost friends around a ghostly dinner table. The poem serves as an epilogue to his work ‘A Vision’, an philosophical exploration of the imaginary and the occult.🔮 👻
FINZI BOOK ROOM 19G/02
In his poem “All Souls’ Night”, W.B. Yeats calls on the memory of his lost friends around a ghostly dinner table. The poem serves as an epilogue to his work ‘A Vision’, an philosophical exploration of the imaginary and the occult.🔮 👻
FINZI BOOK ROOM 19G/02
October 31, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Happy Halloween!🎃
In his poem “All Souls’ Night”, W.B. Yeats calls on the memory of his lost friends around a ghostly dinner table. The poem serves as an epilogue to his work ‘A Vision’, an philosophical exploration of the imaginary and the occult.🔮 👻
FINZI BOOK ROOM 19G/02
In his poem “All Souls’ Night”, W.B. Yeats calls on the memory of his lost friends around a ghostly dinner table. The poem serves as an epilogue to his work ‘A Vision’, an philosophical exploration of the imaginary and the occult.🔮 👻
FINZI BOOK ROOM 19G/02
In our latest blog post, last year's graduate trainee archive assistant Amanda Knight talks us through her archival findings surrounding Dr B.R. Morris's research into the works of John Cleveland.
Read here: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
Read here: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
October 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
In our latest blog post, last year's graduate trainee archive assistant Amanda Knight talks us through her archival findings surrounding Dr B.R. Morris's research into the works of John Cleveland.
Read here: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
Read here: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
These dramatic sketches come from Joseph Nash’s 1838 "Architecture of the Middle Ages: drawn from nature and on stone". We especially love how these sketches combine the everyday goings-on and tribulations of the townspeople with the striking gothic architecture behind.
RESERVE LARGE FOLIO—049
RESERVE LARGE FOLIO—049
October 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
These dramatic sketches come from Joseph Nash’s 1838 "Architecture of the Middle Ages: drawn from nature and on stone". We especially love how these sketches combine the everyday goings-on and tribulations of the townspeople with the striking gothic architecture behind.
RESERVE LARGE FOLIO—049
RESERVE LARGE FOLIO—049
This bound volume of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and volume I of The Ghost Seer by Friedrich Schiller is exactly what we need at this time of year! These illustrations depict iconic moments from the stories, though Schiller's tale remains unfinished…
October 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This bound volume of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and volume I of The Ghost Seer by Friedrich Schiller is exactly what we need at this time of year! These illustrations depict iconic moments from the stories, though Schiller's tale remains unfinished…
🥳 Now open 🎉
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
October 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🥳 Now open 🎉
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
We also look after the personal archive of Beckett’s close friend, James Joyce.
Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
September 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
We also look after the personal archive of Beckett’s close friend, James Joyce.
Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
Some of our books have detailed illustrated covers, like these three volumes on the life of Osbert Sitwell. Part of a collection of five autobiographical books, these were published between 1940 and 1950.
[Finzi 23C/14,15,17]
[Finzi 23C/14,15,17]
September 2, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Some of our books have detailed illustrated covers, like these three volumes on the life of Osbert Sitwell. Part of a collection of five autobiographical books, these were published between 1940 and 1950.
[Finzi 23C/14,15,17]
[Finzi 23C/14,15,17]
Convinced they had seen a real phoenix, the owner of this 16th century book was not impressed by its illustrations. Belon’s 1557 ‘Vrais portraits d’oyseaux’ was used as a checklist for an avid birdwatcher and is full of their annotations. We wonder what the phoenix they saw was…?
[Cole 136/5]
[Cole 136/5]
August 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Convinced they had seen a real phoenix, the owner of this 16th century book was not impressed by its illustrations. Belon’s 1557 ‘Vrais portraits d’oyseaux’ was used as a checklist for an avid birdwatcher and is full of their annotations. We wonder what the phoenix they saw was…?
[Cole 136/5]
[Cole 136/5]
This dramatic cover is heavy enough to be wooden, but it’s actually made of papier-mâché!
Henry Humphreys’ ‘A record of the black prince’ was published in 1849 and is full of detailed miniatures.
[Longman 053]
Henry Humphreys’ ‘A record of the black prince’ was published in 1849 and is full of detailed miniatures.
[Longman 053]
August 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
This dramatic cover is heavy enough to be wooden, but it’s actually made of papier-mâché!
Henry Humphreys’ ‘A record of the black prince’ was published in 1849 and is full of detailed miniatures.
[Longman 053]
Henry Humphreys’ ‘A record of the black prince’ was published in 1849 and is full of detailed miniatures.
[Longman 053]
Some of our manuscripts have tiny figures on them, a few no larger than a thumbnail! These pages range from 400 to 900 years old, and are gilt in gold.
[MS 5650]
[MS 5650]
August 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Some of our manuscripts have tiny figures on them, a few no larger than a thumbnail! These pages range from 400 to 900 years old, and are gilt in gold.
[MS 5650]
[MS 5650]
What would social media look like in the Victorian period? Our newest online exhibition curated by PhD student Amy Longmuir explores ‘The Omnibus’, a magazine created at the turn of the century, which gives us an insight into Victorian life.
July 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
What would social media look like in the Victorian period? Our newest online exhibition curated by PhD student Amy Longmuir explores ‘The Omnibus’, a magazine created at the turn of the century, which gives us an insight into Victorian life.
Some of the books in our collection have had their illustrations coloured in by hand, like this 1553 volume ‘De Aquatilibus’ by Pierre Belon, full of drawings of sea creatures.
[Cole 136/04]
[Cole 136/04]
July 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Some of the books in our collection have had their illustrations coloured in by hand, like this 1553 volume ‘De Aquatilibus’ by Pierre Belon, full of drawings of sea creatures.
[Cole 136/04]
[Cole 136/04]
This curious book ‘The Toilet’ was published in 1867, and only has illustrations with small lines of text. Despite its name, this book does not actually contain toilets, instead each picture has a flap hiding a ‘virtue’.
[Reserve 170.84 MUR]
[Reserve 170.84 MUR]
June 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This curious book ‘The Toilet’ was published in 1867, and only has illustrations with small lines of text. Despite its name, this book does not actually contain toilets, instead each picture has a flap hiding a ‘virtue’.
[Reserve 170.84 MUR]
[Reserve 170.84 MUR]
Happy Bloomsday to all! We are pleased to announce a new exhibition from the Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.
June 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Happy Bloomsday to all! We are pleased to announce a new exhibition from the Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.
Some of our material has hidden additions, like this unassuming 1697 copy ‘Of wisdom’ by Pierre Charron. On the back cover, someone has doodled a person riding a bull or cow, also dated 1698!
[Reserve 170 CHA]
[Reserve 170 CHA]
June 14, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Some of our material has hidden additions, like this unassuming 1697 copy ‘Of wisdom’ by Pierre Charron. On the back cover, someone has doodled a person riding a bull or cow, also dated 1698!
[Reserve 170 CHA]
[Reserve 170 CHA]
Recently found in our archive, this travel journal recounts trips to Geneva, Chamonix and Rome. Written between 1846 and 1853 by Miss Fuller, this book has everything from stories of her holidays, to dancing lessons and comments on the weather.
[MS 1652]
[MS 1652]
June 12, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Recently found in our archive, this travel journal recounts trips to Geneva, Chamonix and Rome. Written between 1846 and 1853 by Miss Fuller, this book has everything from stories of her holidays, to dancing lessons and comments on the weather.
[MS 1652]
[MS 1652]
‘The feminine monarchie…’ by Charles Butler revolutionised beekeeping in 1609 by confirming the queen bee existed. It also includes musical notation of bee’s drones, recipes for marmalade, and descriptions of bees building little wax chapels in their hives!
[Bee Coll. Cotton 01]
[Bee Coll. Cotton 01]
June 6, 2025 at 8:38 AM
‘The feminine monarchie…’ by Charles Butler revolutionised beekeeping in 1609 by confirming the queen bee existed. It also includes musical notation of bee’s drones, recipes for marmalade, and descriptions of bees building little wax chapels in their hives!
[Bee Coll. Cotton 01]
[Bee Coll. Cotton 01]
Our archives hold large collections as well as material that tells the stories of individuals. These recipes were found in a notebook filled with deeply personal stories from the author, and connect us to the history of the items we store.
[MS 1653]
[MS 1653]
May 28, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Our archives hold large collections as well as material that tells the stories of individuals. These recipes were found in a notebook filled with deeply personal stories from the author, and connect us to the history of the items we store.
[MS 1653]
[MS 1653]
It's your last chance to see the Charles Hasler exhibition in the staircase hall as it closes on 30 May:
tinyurl.com/bd2nppsv
And look out for our latest blog post on three innovative mid-century women artists featured in the exhibition!
tinyurl.com/3zx4trmw
tinyurl.com/bd2nppsv
And look out for our latest blog post on three innovative mid-century women artists featured in the exhibition!
tinyurl.com/3zx4trmw
May 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
It's your last chance to see the Charles Hasler exhibition in the staircase hall as it closes on 30 May:
tinyurl.com/bd2nppsv
And look out for our latest blog post on three innovative mid-century women artists featured in the exhibition!
tinyurl.com/3zx4trmw
tinyurl.com/bd2nppsv
And look out for our latest blog post on three innovative mid-century women artists featured in the exhibition!
tinyurl.com/3zx4trmw
We hold thousands of children’s books in our collection, including this edition of ‘Fighting the flames’ by R.M. Ballantyne. This copy was printed at the start of the 20th century, and has detailed illustrations.
[CC 823.8 BAL]
[CC 823.8 BAL]
May 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
We hold thousands of children’s books in our collection, including this edition of ‘Fighting the flames’ by R.M. Ballantyne. This copy was printed at the start of the 20th century, and has detailed illustrations.
[CC 823.8 BAL]
[CC 823.8 BAL]
When ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ by L. Frank Baum was first published, it contained spelling mistakes that had to be quickly amended in a new printing. This is one of our first editions, printed in 1900, with the mistakes corrected.
[Wizard of Oz Collection 001]
[Wizard of Oz Collection 001]
May 8, 2025 at 8:25 AM
When ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ by L. Frank Baum was first published, it contained spelling mistakes that had to be quickly amended in a new printing. This is one of our first editions, printed in 1900, with the mistakes corrected.
[Wizard of Oz Collection 001]
[Wizard of Oz Collection 001]
As well as the Boy’s and Girl’s Own Annuals, we have books like this, ‘The boy’s own book of natural history’ by J.G. Wood. This 1870’s children’s book is bound in bright green cloth, and full of detailed illustrations.
[CC 590 WOO]
[CC 590 WOO]
May 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
As well as the Boy’s and Girl’s Own Annuals, we have books like this, ‘The boy’s own book of natural history’ by J.G. Wood. This 1870’s children’s book is bound in bright green cloth, and full of detailed illustrations.
[CC 590 WOO]
[CC 590 WOO]