Only a few days to go until the @abararebooks CHELSEA BOOK FAIR which opens on Friday at 2pm, at the historic Chelsea Old Town Hall. I can be found at stand 75 and very much hope to see you there. Full details and free tickets available via my website

British.

The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away due to natural causes. She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.

BREAKING: Dr. Jane Goodall, an animal rights advocate, has died of natural causes at age 91, the Jane Goodall Institute says in a statement.

🧪 Frustrated by the actions (or inactions) of some of our professional and learned societies during this ongoing attack on #science and scholarship more generally? If so, this letter to the @royalsociety.org from my mate, @scurry.bsky.social, is worth a read and I hope, signing ✍🏻

Delighted to be taking part in the 2024 Winter Edition of Firsts Online - which opens today at 14.00 (GMT) and runs until midnight on Sunday. Showcasing a wide selection of rare books and works on paper - the perfect gift buying opportunity! www.firsts-online.com

aba.org.uk/news/keel-ro...?

I left school at 16, was in women’s refuge at 25 with 3 small children, went back to education at 26👩‍🎓 got degree in #computing 1993, #PhD in #softwareengineering 2001, an OBE from the King in 2016, I’m now a Prof @durhamuniversity and have 6 Honorary Doctorates inc a DSc award from UniKent ❤️💪🏽😍🎉

@radiotimes.bsky.social The Clangers first aired on the BBC 55 years ago today, on 16th November 1969. - can you share the image please 🥰

Mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius was born #OTD in 1790. 🧪 🔭 He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.

When not doing the day job (rare bookseller focusing upon medicine and science) my time is spent enjoying the Malvern Hills - such a wonderful part of the UK

Annual morbidity in the 20th century, before and after vaccines: Measles: Before: 530,000, After: 47 Mumps: Before: 160,000, After: 429 Rubella: Before: 50,000, After: 3 Diphtheria: Before: 20,000, After: 2 Smallpox: Before: 30,000, After: 0 Polio: Before: 16,000, After: 0

There’s only one surviving document signed by the first four US presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison) and it’s a 1793 subscription list, now at the American Philosophical Society, raising funds for André Michaux’s botanical expedition—remarkable proof of early US support of science

This is a ward full of kids in iron lungs because they had polio. Vaccines saved future generations from this tragedy. RFKs determination to ban vaccines shakes me to the core because this picture from 1955 would once again become our reality.

Having studied* both Quantum and Particle Physics, I firmly believe that portals to a 5th dimension are conduits through which kittens are able to reach us from their own multiverse. *I've watched Professor Brian Cox and Horizon programmes on the telly and all of the Star Trek films

On point, as usual, Marina Hyde: "it will never not blow my mind .... the fact that at least 26 women – TWENTY SIX – have accused one candidate of sexual assault just has not even remotely dominated the news cycle. ... It is just – what? – accepted? Expected? Priced in? Boring?"

At least 63 billionaires have now publicly endorsed Trump, hosted a fundraiser for him, or contributed to Trump aligned PACs. Why are they rallying behind him? Tax cuts, mostly. But there's more. The more Trump tears down democracy, the safer the oligarchy becomes. Be warned.

Delight to plug this the great new initiative bringing together Early Career Booksellers - we are hosting a brunch and tour at Firsts London. Aimed primarily for booksellers in the first 10 years of their careers To register for a ticket please use the following link firsts.artsvp.com/f4e0e4

"She was a book thief and a genealogist, c. 1743" - what a title! For a fascinating research note from @kawulf.bsky.social drawing on the newly relaunched@OldBaileyOnline records! #familyhistory #bookhistory #genealogy #C18 karinwulf.com/trove/she-wa...

Friends, my talk with Nick Wilding about UCL London's copy of Galileo's "il Saggiatore" (1623) is now up! We discuss the context of production, our bibliographical investigations into the book, and examine UCL's copy. Please share, and I hope you enjoy! 📜 #histsci www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tYi...

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/newton-chr... If you are up Lincoln way on 13 December, the Newton Christmas Lecture is afoot: Why it Matters: The Story of Atomism with me and Andrei Zvelindovsky in Maths/Physics. I think this will be streamed on You Tube as well. Free registration at the link above.

The ABA winter edition of Firsts Online is now open and runs until Sunday December 3rd - hopefully something to tempt all book collectors! www.firsts-online.com

Now the British Library confirms that some user data has been stolen and is available on the dark web. Hardly a surprise, but bad news all the same, and an indication there might be more to come. blogs.bl.uk/living-knowl...

A personal favourite for the charming woodcuts - taken from one of the earliest vernacular zoological handbooks printed in Swedish in 1776 by Magnus Orrelius #histsci #zoology #woodcut #printinghistory #naturalhistory

Next up - an appealing decorative binding on this 1750 edition of John Hill’s noted scientific spoof ‘Lucina Sine Concubitu’ ‘pregnancy without intercourse’ #decorativebinding #royalsociety #satire #falseimprint #newcatalogue

Stunning mid 19th c. introduction to the ‘body of man’ by Dr Jules Galet. Originally published in parts with 193 graphic lithograph plates - coloured or uncoloured copies were available. A unique opportunity to acquire both for comparative study. #printingtechniques #bookhistory #newcatalogue

Next recently catalogued favourite - an uncommon bilingual guide on the art of commercial correspondence published in 1814 - the year which saw the defeat of Napoleon. Many of the templates relate to trade between Europe and the East Indies and the Caribbean. #trade #rarebooks #newcatalogue

Recently catalogued items - fine mezzotint portrait of the 18th c. Enlightenment ‘femme de science’ and Émilie du Châtelet (1706-1749). #mezzotint #engravingtechniques #womeninSTEM #newcatalogue DM me for more details

This time next week! Really looking forward to being back in the beautiful Chelsea Old Town Hall, exhibiting at @ABARareBooks Chelsea Rare Book Fair. Stand 53 - do come and say hello!

Very excited to hear that booking is now open for this event that I'm speaking at in November. Looks like this is going to be a fun line up!