iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I must admit I was astounded when I only recently learned of the ark

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I’m sure it is, but I have a reason to be here so I need to see books, catalogues and library borrowing registers. And above all the Ark made for St Chad’s Gospels in the 17c.

110

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Very good indeed. I had a great aunt who lived not far away from here, but this time I am here to maraud the cathedral library tomorrow.

110

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Hereford is a million miles from Lichfield …

000

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This afternoon in Lichfield. A fine city.

3362

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Twisty spire today. I hadn’t been inside since the mid-80s.

050

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Tuija Ainonen @tainonen.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

3rd day and last of #Skin2Script workshop, focus on script part i.e. writing on the parchment and sharing thoughts of the whole process And seeing some amazing mss to observe substrates, and to visit the conservation @theul.bsky.social

0183

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oldest complete western codex @theul.bsky.social is Codex Bezae, probably ca. 400 CE.

110

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Very pleased to be in Derbyshire to speak at an event @chatsworth.bsky.social tomorrow. Oddly like travelling back a decade and a half when as Libraries Curator to @nationaltrust.org.uk I spent most of my life on the road - endless long drives, then tuck up in a village pub, then to work next day

0130

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Harry Spillane @harryspillane.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

How fitting that my episode on Tyndale with @onthetudortrail.bsky.social arrives on #internationaltranslationday Tyndale's English New Testament was the first to translate from Greek into English, and his Pentateuch the first from Hebrew into English. Listen to learn more about Tyndale's life...

youtube.com

Episode 362 - William Tyndale & the English Bible with Dr Harry Spillane

YouTube video by Talking Tudors

097

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Marsh's Library @marshslibrary.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Happy #InternationalTranslationDay! To celebrate, we're sharing an image of Brian Walton's Polyglot Bible. The impressive six volume work presents the Old Testament in nine languages: Hebrew, Aramaic (Targum), Samaritan, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Ethiopic, Greek, and Latin.

02713

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I am spotting lots of familiar faces from @theul.bsky.social conservation here. Which is excellent.

021

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Today for one of my regular Sunday walks around the Fitzwilliam. These three caught my eye today

1154

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

cmillerartlife.bsky.social @cmillerartlife.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Two Constable exhibitions ending soon at British Museum and @ipswichmuseums.bsky.social which has the wonderful Walking Constable's Landscape (including Hay Wain) www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/... ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/constable250/

britishmuseum.org

John Constable: views of nature

Marking the 250th anniversary of his birth, this display celebrates the painter's lifelong engagement with the landscapes of rural England.

2115

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

David Prosser @davidprosser.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Yesterday was start of a bucket list train journey from Sicily to Naples. To cross over to the Italian mainland the train is split into sections and shunted onto a ferry. Super exciting for train nerds!

1223

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

New Effective Altruism HQ just dropped

2878

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

New discovery: An archaeological complex with colourful mosaics and wall paintings dating to the 4th century AD has been discovered in Qesarat, Albania. 👉 www.finestresullarte.info/de/archaolog... #archaeology 🏺

An ancient geometric mosaic partially exposed in an archaeological excavation, featuring interlocking red, cream, gray, and yellow patterns.

026859

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Steven Van Impe @svanimpe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Reminder: one more week to apply for the Nottebohm fellowship for #BookHistory research in Antwerp! For an idea of some of the research conducted using this travel fund, check out the recording of last week's Nottebohm Talks on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA2L...

youtube.com

Online Nottebohm Talks September 15 2016

YouTube video by Museum Plantin-Moretus

02018

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Dr Rory MacLellan @rorymaclellan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Another great medieval name: Thomas le Cursed. TNA C/66 124 #medievalsky

2276

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Dot Porter @leoba.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

*bangs pots and pans* NEW SPECIAL COLLECTIONS CATALOGING JOB JUST DROPPED (and it's at the University of Rochester, which is pretty great) rochester.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UR_Sta...

rochester.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com

Special Collections Metadata Librarian

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, ...

08249

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Steven Van Impe @svanimpe.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

More people wrote and read Latin in the 15th and 16th centuries than in the 1st centuries BCE and CE.

2225

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Ben Gross @bhgross144.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

History of science & #BookHistory friends: What was the size of the initial print run of Hooke's Micrographia? (I've frequently seen the 1st edition referred to as a bestseller, but haven't found a source that confirms how many copies the Royal Society commissioned...) #HistSTM #histsci 🗃️📜🔬

Robert Hooke, Micrographia, Schema XXXIV (The Flea)
Image source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/apr/22/big-tick-energy-how-a-humble-flea-kickstarted-british-art

32510

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Dr David Rundle @drdavidrundle.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Some nice #fragment news here:

0155

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 11/09/2026

Applications now invited for the Society's next round of research funding: for Postgraduates, studying for a PhD, and Early Career Historians, within 5 years of completing a doctorate: bit.ly/4ywZi0S Grants of £500-£1000 to pursue research. Closing date 4 December 2026 #Skystorians 1/2

bit.ly

Calls for research funding from the Royal Historical Society: December 2026 deadlines - RHS

The Society invites applications for the following three schemes — open to historians at a range of career stages — with closing dates from 4 December 2026. Postgraduate Research Support Grants, 2026-...

23650

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

The Parker Library @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Curious what the exhibition is all about? Your chance to see some exceptional early medieval manuscripts - mainly from pre-1066 world & the #BayeuxTapestry, some even from the time before Charlemagne (d. 814) & King Alfred (d. c. 886) & the Viking invations! 📖 www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/art...

corpus.cam.ac.uk

The Art of Handwriting

Our Art of Handwriting exhibition focuses on Humfrey Wanley (1672–1726) and his calligraphic work on some of the oldest manuscripts at the Parker Library

12616

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

#HigherEducationPostcard @hepostcard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Here's a #HigherEducationPostcard of @theul.bsky.social - Cambridge University Library It'll be all Cambridge for a few weeks now because that's where the alphabet has taken me If you like this image, I’d really appreciate a repost – it helps to spread the word!

An old monochrome picture postcard showing a magnificent 1930s monumental building, in brick and stone, with a central tower and lovely high windows. Printed at the foot of the card is University Library, Cambridge

01111

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Ragwort flowering in Ely this week. #WildflowerHour

Yellow Ragwort flowers against a blurred green background.

05711

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Scarlet pimpernel flowering on the pavement in Ely. #WildflowerHour #PavementPlants

Red Scarlet pimpernel flowers and green leaves against a blurred grey brown background.

011419

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Anne Louise Avery @annelouiseavery.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

As we made our way home along a Dorset seaside bramble-way after a very long walk, this magnificent fellow suddenly greeted us from the ferns! Such an honour! 🦌

1525329

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

This weekend in Shoreham. Spectacular Romanesque church.

0161

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Kate North @curatorkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A tiny selection of the many, many, fantastic buildings in Stamford, Lincolnshire 😍

714121

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Kate North @curatorkate.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

An excellent painted sign, still clear and legible, in an alley in Stamford, Lincolnshire 🤩 Love finding unexpected little gems like this! Part of some fieldwork with @limefinishes.bsky.social 😀

19214

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It's honey on toast all round, thanks to the efforts of our bees – and our resident Beekeeper, Melonie Schmierer-Lee! 🍯🐝

1326

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

In a digital world, our card catalogues remain a much-loved feature of Cambridge University Library. These cabinets contain the records of 20th-century material kept in the tower. Searching under "Best" shows how varied our collections are – from Best Cat Stories to George Best's autobiography!

A metal card catalogue drawer pulled open, featuring a brass label frame on the front containing a handwritten paper insert that reads "BES - BIBLE".

Close-up inside a library card catalogue drawer showing a index card typed with "BEST cat stories; ed., with an introduction by M. Joseph.", publication details "London (1952)", and classmark "1952. 8. 758".

Close-up of a vintage library card catalogue drawer showing a yellowed card typed with "BEST (George)", the title "Best of both worlds.", publication details "London, 1968.", and classmark "1968. 8. 395".

14813

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Not just supporting research — but leading it. Explore the poster display in our Catalogue Hall showcasing research projects led by our staff. Up now till 15 Sept 2026. Keep up-to-date with our research, join the University Library Research Institute mailing list: loom.ly/nqIpNxI

0136

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Harry Spillane @harryspillane.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW: 'Selling the Word of God: The Early Commercial History of the English Bible' - £25 A study of how the English Bible became a bestseller, charting the innovations, errors, rivalries and bankruptcies behind the 'book of books' Coming September 2026 tinyurl.com/2p3cdmwp

416623

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Anna Alexandrova @annaalexandrova.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Two junior research fellowships @kingscollege.bsky.social opening soon due on Oct 1st. The theme is REPLICATION conceived broadly to encompass different research projects in humanities and social sciences. As a philosopher of science I am esp hoping for applications in #philsci #metascience #hps

kings.cam.ac.uk

Current research opportunities

48684

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Erika Gaffney @erikagaffney.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Call for papers - Women’s Professional Networks in the Early Modern Book Trade University of Edinburgh 6-7 May 2027 Deadline: 20 December This conference also launches a new collaborative database sourcing biographical information about women in the early modern book trade. #earlymodern

Front page of a call for papers, with a b&w engraving of women sitting at a table, and a man apparently just walking into the room. In the bottom half of the page is the title of the conference with the dates.

A full page of text about the conference - description, possible topics to explore, etc. At the bottom the text reads "Proposals for papers of maximum 20 minutes, including title, an abstract of up to 300 words, and a biography of up to 150 words should be sent to Dr Elise Watson, elise.watson@ed.ac.uk, by 20 December 2026. While all papers will be delivered in person, the conference will be available to attend online."

04233

Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell

Andy Marshall @fotofacade.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A remarkable survival - late tenth century Anglo-Saxon door and inscription: “HER SWUTELATH SEO GECWYDRAEDNES THE” - “Here the covenant [the word] is manifested to thee” Find out where, plus more 📸 👉 www.digest.andymarsh...

0709

Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Without knowing anything about it I can see that immediately. It looks like a mini- and unruined Whitby Abbey, and completely amazing.

031