What are the best 2nd-hand bookshops in the UK -- if by 'best' I mean shops that tend towards (1) interestingly curated stock (2) atmosphere (bit messy, bit tumbled down -- but a place you want to be in) (3) knowledgeable staff who add something (4) inspiring. Trying to make a list!

"Abandoned and failed projects, ca. 1998-2025: an incomplete, chronological list" -- worth your time, from Adam Smyth, who lists all the stuff he dropped or which didn't work adamsmyth.substack.com/p/abandoned-...

Wonderful surprise in the post from @adamwithbooks.bsky.social , his gorgeous book of, about and around a single date. Fascinating and beautiful thing.

Delighted to see INSCRIPTION given a prominent place at Bookmorphs - terrific new exhibition on artists' books @hellenicentre helleniccentre.org/event/bookmo... INSCRIPTION 1, 2, + 3 are sold out & out of print. A few copies of 4 and 5 are left - snap them up via inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

Delighted to see INSCRIPTION given a prominent place at Bookmorphs - terrific new exhibition on artists' books @hellenicentre helleniccentre.org/event/bookmo... INSCRIPTION 1, 2, + 3 are sold out & out of print. A few copies of 4 and 5 are left - snap them up via inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

BOOKMORPHS: Artists' Books from Greece & the UK 14 October - 28 November @joedevlin.bsky.social @sarahbodman.bsky.social @inscriptionjournal.bsky.social The Hellenic Centre 16 - 18 Paddington Street, Marylebone, London W1U 5AS Curated by Fiona Mouzakitis & Despina Stavrou,Christina Mitrentse

Get reading! All the texts from issue 5 of INSCRIPTION: THE JOURNAL OF MATERIAL TEXT are online and downloadable for free at inscriptionjournal.com We are a double-blind peer reviewed, green open access journal. Published by Information as Material in a partnership with Leeds Beckett University

A reminder that THIS is coming up next month. A week-long deep dive into the artists' book, with some amazing guest speakers and visits to key collections. Places still available so PLEASE SHARE!!! 16-20th June, London Rare Books School Book here: ies.sas.ac.uk/london-rare-...

Hooray! We are launched!

LAST CHANCE to sign up for this, on 23rd May! A hands-on study day in UCL special collections, exploring their most experimental magazines, from the Modernist avant-garde to the mimeo revolution. ies.sas.ac.uk/events/magaz...

INSCRIPTION 5 launch! If AT LEAST 2 of the following apply to you, do drop by. (a) you like odd, experimental books (b) you are enthusiastic about the concept of containers (c) you like articles on material texts with holes in (d) you are around London on May 14 May (e) you fancy a glass of wine.

Attention friends and supporters of Inscription Journal: Issue 5 on 'containers' is HERE. We will be celebrating in fine style amid the marble pillars of Senate House, Bloomsbury. Please come and join us. 14th May. Dress code: casual/cardboard box. Register here: tinyurl.com/Inscriptionlaunch

Come and get your fingers inky. Just a few days left to register for this study day at UCL special collections. We'll be getting hands on with mimeo, lo-fi and DIY mags from the 60s and 70s. Please pass on the word! ies.sas.ac.uk/events/magaz...

Inscription issue 5 out RIGHT NOW for purchase: inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/ Here it is: all 55 beautiful metres of it, in scroll format. vimeo.com/1081870144?s...

A lightning flick through some of the amazing experimental magazines we'll be exploring in this one day course, coming up THIS MONTH on 23rd May: ies.sas.ac.uk/events/magaz... Places still available but booking ends soon so be quick.

Inscription issue 5 has landed! It's all about CONTAINERS, and it has articles, artworks, and STUFF. Snap up a copy before they are all gone ... inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

THIS THIS THIS!

It’s 13 March day! If you’d like a free copy of my collage-of-one-day-from-the-past, let me know and I’ll post you 13 MARCH 1911 (unless I am besieged). www.the-tls.co.uk/regular-feat... books-on-books.com/2020/11/12/b...

... so happy to co-sign with Marie Radepont @crc-recherche.bsky.social and Étienne Anheim @crhehess.bsky.social an essay which is part of this issue @inscriptionjournal.bsky.social. Printed in a limited number of copies... don't wait if you want to have one!

Issue 5 on containers is imminent! 'Containers' considered via ESSAYS and FICTION (Joanna Kavenna) and ART WORKS (Erica Baum, Daniel Buren, Jeremy Deller, Harold Offeh + others) Pre-order before they're all gone at inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

Editorial meeting with Gill, Adam and Simon working on layout of Inscription number 5, on containers. Advance orders inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

J'adore

C'est quand même rassurant de voir la quantité de choses belles, intelligentes, intéressantes qui se font; et qui se font malgré tout, quand même, tant pis et tant mieux. Avis #MedievalSky : appel pour le prochain numéro de @inscriptionjournal.bsky.social sur les coupes et les déchirures. 👇

Inscription issue 6 (out spring 2026) is all about cuts / tears. Here is our call for papers -- cut up. Talk to us if you have an idea for an article!

Inscription issue 6 (out spring 2026) is all about cuts / tears. Here is our call for papers. Talk to us if you have an idea for an article!

A micro-essay on categories

This is our cover for Inscription 5, out early 2025, on containers! The brilliant Kimsooja! Shipping container all of the artist's personal possessions from her New York apartment Courtesy of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst and Kimsooja Studio Photo by Pierre Adenis