In you London.

The doggy arms of the Dutch nobleman, ornithologist, palaeontologist & President of the Académie royale de Belgique, Bernard Aimé Léonard du Bus de Gisignies (1808-74). On a copy of Albertus Magnus’s ‘De animalibus’ (Mantua, 1479). @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.1.B.18.4[2152].

Wonderful to be at the inaugural recital - by Olivier Latry - @stjohnscollege.bsky.social last night. Thanks @tanyakirk.bsky.social!

Hot husband alert 👀

The nation coming together in the warm glow of David Attenborough's birthday is just what we needed in the current shitshow.

A long interview with the early medieval historian Rosamond McKitterick, reflecting on her life and work, ably conducted by Richard Pollard youtu.be/pvBdJyUAwyY?...

🎉Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! 🎉The legendary broadcaster, natural historian and writer became an Honorary Fellow of the Society in 2007 and we're delighted to send him our best wishes for this milestone celebration! 🎂

Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough! When we got married in 2016 three friends of ours ditched part of our day to attend a talk he was giving. As a result we have a wedding card signed by him! #sirdavidattenborough

Lush dinner with @aglmasters.bsky.social: Nigella’s lamb & potatoes with mint, lemon & chilli, with a lush courgette, tomato, mint & balsamic salad from Anna del Conte 🤤

The arms of John Morton (d. 1500), Archbishop of Canterbury. In his copy of a legal work by Bartolo of Sassoferrato, printed at #Venice by Vindelinus de Spira in 1471. Presented to the Royal Society by the Duke of Norfolk in 1667, later deaccessioned. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.1.B.3.1b[3730].

Cambridge University Librarian Francis Jenkinson copying the great collector Michael Wodhull (1740-1816) - whose arms are found on the front cover - by adding his date of acquisition under Wodhull’s. In a book sale catalogue printed at Dordrecht in 1696. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Hhh.1135.

On this day in 1432, at Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, a great altarpiece by Hubert & Jan van Eyck was dedicated. Here, its exterior, w/ portraits of donors Jodocus & Lysbette Vijd.

This dog & dove have been getting to know eachother for the best part of 550 years. Found in the margin of Franciscus de Retza’s ‘Comestorium Vitiorum’ (Nuremberg, 1470), on the seven deadly sins and the corresponding virtues. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.1.A.7.1a[4224].

And so it begins…

Embossed gilt portrait stamp of Antonio Magliabechi (1633-1714), librarian to Cosimo III de’ Medici & a central figure in the literary life of Florence. His vast library of 30,000 books was bequeathed to the city & opened as the ‘Magliabechiana’; under Victor Emmanuel II in 1861… (1/2)

The Bibliographical Society is looking for three volunteers to help with its FIRSTS London stall at the following times: • Friday the 15th of May, 5-8pm • Sunday the 17th of May, 11am - 1pm • Sunday the 17th of May, 1-3pm

A gilt centrepiece dated 1569 on the vellum binding of a copy of Louis Roussard’s edition of Justinian’s ‘Institutiones’, printed at Antwerp in 1566. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social H.11.51.

Bank Holiday librarian.

An absolutely gorgeous day of #churchcrawling seven churches in Worcestershire & Warwickshire yesterday. L-R: St Eadburgha (Broadway), Tony Naylor glass at St Mary’s (Lapworth), 17thC monument in St Peter’s (Wootton Wawen), & the Sandys monument in St John the Baptist (Wickhamford).

Marcel know “sit” and “high five” now. He’s a super smart, high energy cat so @mikeldelgado.bsky.social recommended that we try training for enrichment!

Who was in charge of ruling & layout for this manuscript?! (Koblenz, Landeshauptarchiv, Bestland 701 Nr. 138; early 15th century) #MedievalSky

My good friend Robin Myers, former archivist of @stationerscomms.bsky.social & first woman President of @bibsoc.bsky.social, would have been 100 today (she died on this day three years ago). Here she is out-hatting the Queen while showing Her the Stationers’ Company archive in 1981.

Born on this day in 1567, in Delft, Michiel Janszoon van Mierevelt. Here painting Aegje Hasselaer in her beautiful lace collar, 1640.

Well this is odd to find on a title page. From a Civil War speech by John Hampden ‘concerning the accusation of high treason, preferred by His Majesty, against himselfe’, printed in 1642. He was killed fighting for Parliament in June 1643. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Syn.7.64.122(35).

Day much improved by (1) Gin & Dubonnet, and (2) coming home to a clean oven & microwave, and (3) a husband who’s prepped dinner ✨

A Chantilly porcelain tea cup and saucer both with a blue rim and painted with floral sprays in underglaze blue. Made during the third quarter of the eighteenth century. Plain and fancy.

St Peter Carlo Crivelli, 1476 (National Gallery, London)

Don't miss the 2026 Annual Becket Lecture with @laurajcleaver.bsky.social! 'In Search of Gervase of Canterbury' 📆 11 May 🕕️ 6-7pm 📍 Canterbury Christ Church University Book now! 👇️

Today is being A DAY. But slightly restored after five minutes with birdsong & the wind in the trees.

Another gym bop 💪

Saint Sebastian doing a little dance as he is shot full of arrows. Predella of the Pala Ottoni by Carlo Crivelli, whose day is today.

Former Irish president Michael D Higgins is not rich. He’s down to Earth, a poet, an academic & a scholar. He also demonstrates how politics can be done. He’s incredibly popular* Michael D Higgins returned €2.6 million of pay and allowances to State over 14-year presidency

Wowww 🤩

A perfect day in Oxford for @theul.bsky.social Librarian and entomologist Francis Jenkinson, 20 May 1901. Two hours looking at #Diptera at @morethanadodo.bsky.social, then a serendipitous encounter with the Duke of Devonshire’s Shakespeare First Folio at @bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

The gilt arms of Sir John Rivers (1579-1651) on a copy of Pietro Galatino’s ‘De arcanis Catholicæ veritatis’ (Frankfurt, 1602), on the confiscation of Jewish books. In heraldic speak his arms are ‘a bull statant ducally crowned collared chained & ringed’. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social F.1.15.

The UL has a new Queen Bee! 👑🐝 Her Royal Highness Queen Amber is settling into her new home very nicely. Long may she reign over the UL's front lawn. 🍯 Amber is marked with a blue dot. Can you spot her?

The tiny Audrey Chantry off the retrochoir in Hereford Cathedral. Glass by Tom Denny, depicting the life of the 17th Century mystic Thomas Traherne. I have to say I find Denny's glass a bit overwhelming when it's on a grand scale, but here it's just about perfect.

A majestic centaur atop the arms of Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen II (1625-1704) in a copy of Commelin’s guide to Amsterdam’s botanic garden (Amsterdam, 1697-1701), which - as mayor of #Amsterdam thirteen times - Huydecoper was responsible for expanding. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Rel.bb.69.1.

Happy meecrowahvey day! With @aglmasters.bsky.social.

Cambridge Chapels Study Day Saturday, 12th September 2026 We shall visit four outstanding examples of college chapels in Cambridge. We are very grateful to each of the colleges for making this day possible. Book here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/events/cambr...

My lunchtime rummagings seem (maybe) to have turned up an unknown book from the library of the antiquary William Lambarde (1536-1601). In a work by Livy printed at Lyons in 1548. Part of the library of John Moore, Bishop of Ely (d. 1714), gifted to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by King George I. Q.6.44

Film you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars/Trek, HP, LOTR, Marvel.

Goggleboxing Masterchef & reminded why I don’t watch that utter rubbish. One ‘chef’ who presents raw chicken & another who doesn’t know that mashed potato shouldn’t be in liquid form. Give me decent home cooking any day.

Punting!

What a #sunny Saturday! Here’s a happy sun from the ‘Refractiones Coelestes’ (Ingolstadt, 1617), a work on astronomy by the German Jesuit priest & astronomer Christoph Scheiner. He worked on sunspots & corresponded with Galileo, who sent him some telescopes. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social M.10.62.

Watching.

“Fracking is like geological douching”. Glorious stuff from @aglmasters.bsky.social

The Hereford Gospels online symposium programme is now online: www.herefordcathedral.org/Event/herefo... It will be on 26 June, 10-4. Please do share. It'd be lovely to have a nice audience.

For all Brummie and Baskerville aficionados alike, take a look at this lovely, and very tiny, little book of which I have been generously gifted four copies by the printer. heavydutypress.com/baskerville-...

Anyone able to identify this mysterious bookplate? Late 18th/early 19thC, engraved & printed in blue-green ink. The monogram with three letters, perhaps “B S D”, beneath a jewelled turban. In a work by Pope Pius II printed at Cologne by Ulrich Zel c. 1470. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.5.A.4.1[287]