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wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Sarah Werner
@wynkenhimself.bsky.social
4.3K followers 480 following 2.2K posts
feminist bibliography, old books, mutual aid, and doikayt // author, Studying Early Printed Books 1450–1800: A Practical Guide; editor, The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America // sarahwerner.net
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wynkenhimself.bsky.social
I am older than gender markers on passports! How do you regulate gender? By making it a form of government ID. It has nothing to do with state security, only regulation
State-issued documents aren't just tools to allow identification; they're also tools to enforce hierarchies. In his book "The Passport in America," the historian Craig Robertson argues that the document has served both to affirm and to assign such attributes of identity as class, race and gender. That last category didn't show up on the U.S. passport until 1976, after a panel of experts convened by the State Department noted that the rise of "unisex attire and hairstyles" had made it harder to determine a person's sex. "Gender markers thus were born out of the fear that gender was becoming ungovernable," wrote the immigration attorney Lauren Des Rosiers.
November 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Banger of a mail day
Three texts on a table: Dorothy Berry’s new book, The House Archives Built & Other Thoughts on Black Archival Possibilities; the latest issue of The Onion; and Dan Sinykin & Johanna Winant’s new collection, Close Reading for the 21st Century
October 29, 2025 at 10:39 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
For your Friday cheer, this zine from @janineveazue.bsky.social has taught me that I would, indeed, wear these booty shorts
Photo of a mini zine showing the front cover with the title “booty shorts I would totally wear: archives edition” and the back cover depicting a pair of booty shorts with the words “rights mgmt” in a gothic font across the booty
September 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Ok, yes, sure, my body is a gift from G-d. We are all made in the image of the divine. So maybe let’s take care of our bodies and each other in appreciation!!
"Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body?" Dr. Ladapo, a vocal denigrator of vaccines, said to applause during an event on Wednesday in Valrico, Fla., near Tampa. "Your body is a gift from God."
September 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Such a good mail day!! Poetry from @eireannmor.bsky.social and PBSA from @bibsocamer.bsky.social, with new bibliographical work on the printing of the First Folio, the bibliographer Sarah de Laredo, and the mysterious mixed issues of Barlow’s Aesop! The color coordination is entirely coincidence
Covers of the September issue of The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America and of Éireann Lorsong’s Pattern-book
September 2, 2025 at 10:39 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Fancy sandwiches and their wives
Text of an old twitter post by @AliceAvizandum FRANCE: we're fancy WORLD: ok FRANCE: a fried ham sandwich is our national lunch WORLD: FRANCE: a fried ham sandwich with an egg is its wife
August 5, 2025 at 11:30 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
My flight from SFO is delayed 90 mins because of the volume of air traffic? Is this a thing now???
Your flight is departing late to allow air traffic control to safely manage the volume of aircraft along your route. We value your time and we're sorry for the inconvenience. (Estimated Departure 1 Hour 28 Minutes Late)
July 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Cannot believe I’m leaving this gorgeous weather for that horrible weather
Weather chart showing of week of sunny pleasant weather wi the highs of 72-82° and lows of 55-60° Weather chart showing a week of thunderstorms with highs of 84-94° and lows of 71-76°
July 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Exciting news, Bluesky! I’m editing a new book series for Bloomsbury with Tom Mole and Lisa Gitelman: Book History for the Future! Do you focus on material textual artifacts and innovative methodologies? We’re actively soliciting proposals, so give us a shout! www.bloomsbury.com/media/cecjzl...
BLOOMSBURY ACADEMIC NEW SERIES Book History for the Future SERIES EDITORS: Lisa Gitelman, New York University, USA Tom Mole, Durham University, UK Sarah Werner, Independent Researcher, USA Book History for the Future aims to define the cutting edge for a new generation of book historians, as book history enters a new chapter of its evolution. Books sit at a densely trafficked intersection of social relations, status negotiations, emotional investments, material possibilities, desires, aspirations, and dreams. They require an intellectual approach grounded in attention to physical artefacts and material conditions while also engaged in theoretical reflection, attentive to historical contexts while attuned to contemporary resonances. This series publishes books that eschew academic parochialism in favour of adventurous engagements with new theoretical developments, innovative methodologies, digital tools, and global contexts.
July 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Oh no but also same. And speaking of which, I saw this chair in Glasgow in the Burrell Collection and thought of you and book lights (the label says nothing about the modifications!)
Pic of an old upholstered chair with an electric reading light attached to its back Thoroughly Modern Marion Although Marion Burrell lived in an old castle, she enjoyed all the mod cons of the 1920s. Imagine friends phoning for her, jazz music on the wireless, and cosy central heating warming the draughty castle. Now look up at the 'medieval' chandeliers. They are lit by thoroughly modern electric light bulbs. Armchair about 1715 Walnut, wool, silk, brass Made in England 14.65
July 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Last week when I went for walks I got to take pics like this and I’m really missing being in Scotland right now, despite the midges
A picture of Loch Lomand, a winding lake, between green hills and a blue sky with dramatic clouds with mountains in the distance
June 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Went for a walk, took the saddest pic
A well-loved and disheveled gray stuffed animal of some sort lying on the ground surrounded by dirt and grass and plants
June 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Also today in Glasgow, this great case at the Burrell Collection about Guanyin as a trans icon. Be more Guanyin! 🏳️‍⚧️
An exhibition case showing three figures representing Guanyin Guanyin: A Transgender Icon Starting in the 900s Buddhists in China transformed the male god Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara into the female goddess of compassion, Guanyin. Some trans people feel this gender-fluid figure reflects their life experiences. Figure of Guanyin 1662-1722 Guanyin has always represented the basic human values of compassion and kindness. Trans people deserve respect and understanding. Trans rights are human rights. Be more Guanyin. Qing Dynasty Porcelain, made in China 38.837
June 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
I got to pet this wee highland cow today and it was great.
A young highland cow lying in the grass next to a fence with its ear tagged and eyes closed. It has red shaggy fur and it looks very peaceful
June 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Imagine living in a city where the federal government overrules you on your very own spaces constantly wapo.st/4jGlbDb Happy Pride DC! Remember to make your celebration also a protest!!
News alert from the Washington Post reading “Dupont Circle Park will be closed for Pride despite city officials' pushback: Crews fence off area per National Park Service order”
June 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
We run on 13-week seasons and contributors pledge an amount that is right for them. Last season 394 people pledged between $3 and $100 weekly, so that we could distribute $205 or $225 to our 25 recipients, who use those funds to help pay for food, medicine, and housing. Doesn't that sound great? +
Blue background with white clouds and black text reading: "You can join us! Sign up with your weekly pledge (current pledges range from $3 to $100) and we'll do the rest! Visit bit.ly/newCMMPseason to sign up."
May 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Have I told you all about the joy of the Consistent Money-Moving Project? CMMP is modeled after core mutual aid beliefs of everyone contributing to everyone's betterment. We pool donations from a large group of people and send it weekly to those in dire financial need. +
Blue background with white clouds and black text reading: "Do you want to feel the power of hope? Are you looking for concrete ways to help?" Blue background with white clouds and black text reading: "Consistent Money-Moving Project (CMMP) is a project that redistributes money to those in severe financial need. Last season our 394 contributors gave 25 recipients each $205 to $225 weekly for 13 weeks."
May 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Yesterday I went to see the Elizabeth Catlett exhibition at the National Gallery and saw this perfect sculpture of mother and child as well as so much powerful calls for peace and revolution. Highly recommend! www.nga.gov/exhibitions/...
A color lithograph: “Negro es Bello (Negro es Bello Il)” by Elizabeth Catlett. There are two Black faces surrounded by small round circles of the Black Panther symbol surrounded by the words “Black is beautiful” A carved cedar sculpture of a mother holding her baby. The mother’s face is loving and protective and a bit worried. The back of the same sculpture, showing the baby’s face, which is pure safety of being held and loved
May 16, 2025 at 12:10 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
And the audacity of this man terminating Carla Hayden in a two sentence email that addresses her by her first name?! She should only ever be Dr Hayden to them. (Via www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...)
Email sent to the Librarian of Congress firing her. It reads “Carla, On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” The email is signed by Trent Moore, Deputy Director, Presidential Personnel
May 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
DC pals! Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick is only up for a little bit longer. It’s one of my favorite art pieces to experience and you’ve got until May 13 to say your farewell!! americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/...
A view of Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick installation with magenta lighting A view of Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick installation with orange and pink lighting A view of Janet Echelman’s 1.8 Renwick installation with blue, yellow, and pink lighting
April 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Important detail from that piece: the cats clearly love @nicolechung.bsky.social—spot her Living Remedy on the shelf here!
“Foster cats Mouse and Georgie hanging out by a bookshelf shelf”; there is an arrow drawn on the picture pointing to Nicole Chung’s book
April 24, 2025 at 12:18 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
I guess today could be the day to remind you all that I keep the world's only descriptive catalog of digitized facsimiles of Shakespeare's First Folios,* so if that's your jam, I am your jam maker. sarahwerner.net/blog/digitiz...

*is it the world's only such thing? dunno but who else is this weird?
digitized first folios A list of currently available digital F1s with descriptions of their various features with some general useful information about the textual history of the First Folio. (note: Info on uncorrected pages comes from Rasmussen & West’s descriptive catalog of F1s, but heed my caveat.) I wrote an article looking at digital F1s through a bibliographical and cultural materialist lens for the Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare’s First Folio; it’s available on my site for your reading pleasure. If you want an online census of all of Shakespeare’s plays, including F1, see the Shakespeare Census, which has lots of information including links to digital copies. tl;dr Your first stop for an easy-to-use digitized First Folio should be the Bodleian’s copy: it’s good for general use and good for textual scholars. If you want one-stop-shopping for all four Folios, use Miami’s. If you want early marginalia, use the copy from the Free Library of Philadelphia. 49 First Folios, organized alphabetically by holding institution
April 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
Currently prevented by this important cat situation
POV of a person with two cats sleeping on her lap and legs
March 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
More like Virago editions like this one of Cecilia
Page from a Virago edition of Cecilia showing a typeface that is old fashioned Colophon from same book showing statement it was offset from the 1904 edition
March 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
wynkenhimself.bsky.social
I went for a walk with a new friend in the gorgeous Patapsco Valley State Park and saw this great tree growing an eye
The trunk of a tree showing bark markings that look like a human eye
March 10, 2025 at 11:22 PM