iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by James Fox

The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

📢PROJECT UPDATE📢 You may have seen the news that the University of Exeter, home of the wills project, has placed 500 academics at risk of redundancy. The project leader Prof. Jane Whittle & project co-investigator Dr Laura Sangha are both at risk, alongside almost all of the History department. 1/

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The Historical Journal @historicaljnl.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

📘From our latest issue! James Fox @jamesafox.bsky.social @glasgow.ac.uk on 'Numeracy, Otherness, and the Invention of ‘Civilization’ in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Anglo-European Travel Writing' #Science #China #Americas 17thc 18thc 🗃️ 👉Open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Depictions of numeracy among non-Europeans were a prominent feature of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Anglo-European travel writing, but remain largely overlooked in the extensive scholarship on travel, knowledge, and empire. This article shifts attention from traditionally ‘scientific’ forms of numeracy such as mathematics and astronomy towards more fundamental counting, calculation, and communication skills, to examine the way in which mutually reinforcing hierarchies of otherness and numerical knowledge were constructed in travel accounts. Focusing particularly on writings about China and the Americas, it demonstrates the way in which European written and mathematically precise numeracy was perceived as superior to oral, embodied, and object-based practices observed elsewhere. Exploring the reception of these ideas in eighteenth-century Britain reveals that numeracy became integral to emergent notions of European modernity and civilization. The example of numeracy, this article suggests, demonstrates the interrelationship between social relations in national context and global power structures.

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Stirling Maxwell Centre @uofgsmc.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

A blog by @jamesafox.bsky.social on our incursion into science with rare books, a community outreach and #knowledgeExchange experience at the #GlaSciFest 2026: ‘How-to Books in the Wild: “Hands on History” at Glasgow Science Festival’ howtobook.hypotheses.org/6674

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Universal Short Title Catalogue @universalstc.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS KLAXON! 📢 Proposals for papers are invited on the subject of ‘Legal Use of Print in Early Modern Europe’ to be presented at the combined 19th USTC/St Andrews Book History & 3rd COMLAWEU conference in St Andrews Deadline: 1 December 2026 #CfP #bookhistory #twitterstorians #USTC27

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Universal Short Title Catalogue @universalstc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

And with ‘Print and power in the classroom: reconstructing the bookscape of charity schools in eighteenth-century Highland Scotland’ we have our conference co-organiser, @jamesafox.bsky.social! #USTC26

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

COME AND LEARN ABOUT SCIENCE AND HISTORY TOGETHER!! We are at #GlaSciFest running fun science experiments from genuine 17th-century how-to book instructions. Come and find us at the Riverside Museum Sunday-Wedneaday #science #history

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Meet us at the GLASGOW SCIENCE FESTIVAL! Together, we’ll test real experiments from 16th-c how-to books. Try your hand at making a floating compass or writing with invisible ink, and discover the quirky world of early modern practical knowledge. You can find us at the Riverside Museum (June 7-10).

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Today is #NationalNumeracyDay As @jamesafox.bsky.social argues in our latest article, the UK's present-day numeracy crisis has seventeenth-century roots. Understanding them might help us make better sense of today's issues. Read the article here: scilicet.org.uk/the-uks-nume... #skystorians

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

How did heads of state control the narrative before social media? In our latest article, @nataliesmith.bsky.social explores the role of Swedish historiographer of the realm, and how history was used for political ends at the height of empire. scilicet.org.uk/who-controls... #skystorians

scilicet.org.uk

Who Controls the Narrative? A short history of Swedish state historians | Scilicet

How did heads of state control the narrative before social media? In this article, we look at the Swedish historiographer of the realm role – the early modern spreader of disinformation.

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James Fox @jamesafox.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Really enjoyed writing this one ✏️

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

How do we tell the history of history? To mark the beginning of a new series on our website, @guyfassler.bsky.social delves into the history of history in our latest article. We've also given the entire website a face-lift, so go check out 👇 scilicet.org.uk/a-short-hist... #skystorians #history

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

WE ARE HIRING! If you're a student @glasgow.ac.uk or know someone who is, you may be interested in an internship opportunity to help design and carry out a public engagement activity at Glasgow Science Festival. 👉 glasgow.targetconnect.net/leap/jobs.ht... #science #sciencefestival #GlaSciFest

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Charlie Lynch @charlielynch.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

So, historian here looking for more freelance work over the next few months. I’m a very experienced RA and have done lots of things, including numerous oral history interviews, editing, co-authoring a book, public history journalism, archive work…

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

📚 In our latest blog post, Stefan Laube reflects on a recent workshop on 'Knowing How! The Transmission of Practical Knowledge in the Middle Ages' at the Herzog August Bibliothek Read more here 👇 howtobook.hypotheses.org/6036

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The Historical Journal @historicaljnl.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

📣First 2026 Issue of the HJ! Featuring articles from historians including @adambforsyth.bsky.social, @adam-q.bsky.social, @joelherman.bsky.social, @davidandress.bsky.social, @feichen-uol.bsky.social and more! 👉Read open access here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... 🗃️📜📘

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

New on the blog: @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the unique materiality of a rare surving copy of a recipe book by the famous 'authress' Hannnah Woolley 🎂 Read more here 👇 howtobook.hypotheses.org/6000 #recipes #rarebooks #bookhistory #earlymodern

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

"Perhaps the greatest life hack of all is to stop reducing the world to mere utility, and instead to dwell in life’s quiet, unruly, exquisite imperfection" Words of wisdom from Stefan Laube in our latest blog post - read more here 👇 howtobook.hypotheses.org/5869

howtobook.hypotheses.org

Tearing off Time. The Tyranny of the Daily Life Hack.

The year 2026 is already nearly two months old – and yet it feels lighter, more unburdened than the last. Why? Because my life is no longer measured by a tear-off calendar. It did not blink. It did no...

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

In our latest blog post, Alina Lange explores the material, sensory-affective world of early modern pattern books 🧵 Read more here 👉 howtobook.hypotheses.org/5815 #crafts #needlework #earlymodern #bookhistory

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

New our blog, @jamesafox.bsky.social on Robert Burns and the how-to of barrel gauging 📏🛢📖🍺 howtobook.hypotheses.org/5697 #bookhistory #robertburns #taxes

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

📚 What made plants undesirable according to #earlymodern how-to books? In our latest #blog Stefan Laube explores household books on the practice of weeding 🌿 howtobook.hypotheses.org/5594

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James Fox @jamesafox.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Pleased to see this out in the open at last 😀

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

📚 New on our blog, @jamesafox.bsky.social in search of how-to Sammelbände... howtobook.hypotheses.org/5519 #bookhistory #booksky

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dehypotheses @dehypotheses.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

#Fireworks shifted from expert knowledge at court to bourgeois #DIY & finally to mass consumption. What was once controlled craft & symbolic order is now a deregulated spectacle with social, ecological & psychological costs. howtobook.hypotheses... #EverydayHistory @howtobooks.bsky.social

Thames firework 1749 with music from Handel, Public Domain, Wikimedia

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Feeling the winter chill? ❄️ Ever wondered “Should royal monkeys wear sweaters” when it's cold out? You’re not alone! Let's take a look at a letter letter from Olof von Dalin to Carl Linnaeus, translated by @nataliesmith.bsky.social on the topic: scilicet.org.uk/should-royal... #Skystorians

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Natalie M. Smith @nataliesmith.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Reminder for anyone wanting to submit an abstract before the holidays!

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Happy St Lucy’s Day! To mark the Feast of St Lucy, we thought we would share this petition from Pistoia regarding the renovation of her chapel.

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

In our latest blog post, Clément Poupard discusses his research on early modern memory manuals, which he shared at our recent workshop on 'Body - Health - Home' at the Herzog August Bibliothek. 👉 Find out more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4960

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Natalie M. Smith @nataliesmith.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

This post brings together some reflections on the themes I explored in my Rettig Fellowship, funded by the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities. The sources (travel diaries, military maps, antiquarian accounts) have been fun to work with!

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Last week we ran a 2-day workshop at the Herzog August Bibliothek on the theme of 'Body-Health-Home', featuring a host of great papers, a 17th-century salad reconstruction, and, of course, some amazing how-to books 📚 Read more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4800 #bookhistory #library #workshop

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Where would we be without Google? Before the age of the internet lots of questions went unanswered. In this week's article @jamesafox.bsky.social takes us through a curious list of questions compiled by Leonard Wheatcroft, a 17th c. man from Derbyshire. #Skystorians scilicet.org.uk/where-would-...

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Making a medieval manuscript was an artful process that required many types of specialised knowledge. Our latest article by @guyfassler.bsky.social is a catalogue of everything you need to know about making medieval books that would last a millennium. scilicet.org.uk/everything-y... #skystorians

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

🎆Happy #GuyFawkesDay! Before and after the 1605 gunpowder plot, fireworks were an important part of celebrations. But what were they made of? In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the fascinating book that taught the art of making fire scilicet.org.uk/before-and-a... #Skystorians

An etching of the Royal Fireworks display on the Thames, London, England 1749

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Natalie M. Smith @nataliesmith.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

My latest post for Scilicet, on Frederick the Great's Anti-Machiavel

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

What does a Prince need to know? In our latest article, @nataliesmith.bsky.social analyses Frederick the Great's fiery rebuttal to Machiavelli's "the Prince", and examines what it can tell us about #EarlyModern ideas of morality, war and governance: scilicet.org.uk/is-ruling-th... #Skystorians

Black and white drawing of Frederick the Great of Prussia and Voltaire meeting for the first time.

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

👀 Want to find out more about our project? Team members Alina Lange and Stefan Laube recently appeared on the Herzog August Library podcast to discuss the fascinating world of early modern how-to books. 👉 Listen along (in German) here: www.hab.de/podcast-22-v... #bookhistory #libraries #podcast

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Navigating flu season is bad enough, but what are you meant to do when the Black Death strikes in your city? 💀In our latest article, @guyfassler.bsky.social looks at some lessons learned from #medieval Pistoia: scilicet.org.uk/the-black-de... #Skystorians #historyofknowledge #MedievalHistory

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

This week we have a special article in which we share our thoughts about the History of Knowledge and what it means to us. It was great fun to write and we hope you will find it thought provoking! #skystorians #historyofknowledge scilicet.org.uk/what-is-the-...

scilicet.org.uk

What is the history of knowledge? | Scilicet

Scilicet is a blog dedicated to the history of knowledge. In the broadest terms, we’re interested in what people in the past knew, what it meant to know things, and what we as historians can learn abo...

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James Fox @jamesafox.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

The #cfp deadline for our 2026 conference on 'Print and Education is now just under 2 months away!! If anyone would like to discuss a proposal with me, feel free to get in touch. #bookhistory #Education #conference

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Scottish History Society @scothistorysociety.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

We've joined the blue sky! Just as the skies darken for winter too Please let your followers know that the Scottish History Society has arrived! Find out more about memberships, the society, and events at our website: scottishhistorysociety.com

scottishhistorysociety.com

The Scottish History Society

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social charts the meteoric rise and eventual decline of #18thcentury mathematician 🧮 Thomas Simpson. 👉 Read more here: scilicet.org.uk/becoming-a-m... #history #mathematics #skystorians

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

In our latest blog post, intern Sandrine Hoppe explores the earliest known recipe book authored by a woman in vernacular German, Anna Wecker's Ein köstlich new kochbuck (1598) howtobook.hypotheses.org/4596 #bookhistory #cookbook #blog

Title page of Ein köstlich new kochbuck (1598)

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

🤔 Is it better to learn from the wisdom of the ancients or from your experience gained over time? 📚 In our latest blog post, @guyfassler.bsky.social explores a 15th-century Tuscan dialogue debating that very question... scilicet.org.uk/whats-the-po... #bookhistory #medieval #knowledge

Leon Battista Alberti, (possibly) Self-Portrait, c. 1435

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

What do beekeeping books tell us about changes in early modern science and society? @jamesafox.bsky.social has some suggestions, especially in relation to #17thCentury England scilicet.org.uk/the-hive-tur... #Skystorians #EarlyModern #Bees #AnimalHistory

An early pamphlet printing of The World Turn’d Upside Down (1647).

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

We're back from our summer break, and are ready for a new season ☀️ Keep an eye on this page tomorrow, there's something buzzing...

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Nicole Maceira Cumming @nicolemaceira.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Great to see the latest issue of Scottish Archives in print! I've written a wee something about James VI's Scottish menagerie 🐆 🐪 👑 Looking forward to reading all the other fantastic contributions when my copy arrives!

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James Fox @jamesafox.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The latest issue of Scottish Archives has now been published, featuring work from @mchapelproject.bsky.social @nicolemaceira.bsky.social @ksmcgregor.bsky.social and myself, among others. If anyone would like a PDF of my article, just send me a message! #bookhistory #scottishhistory #Archives

First page of 'Record-Keeping and the Business of Books in Pre-Union Edinburgh' by James Fox

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

In our latest #blog post, Stefan Laube explores the role of #how-to knowledge in the long span of human history Read more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4498

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Early Modern How-to Books @howtobooks.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

New on our #blog: @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the unique #marginalia in a one-of-a-kind 16th-century French arithmetic book from the Herzog August Bibliothek 📖🇩🇪🧮 Read more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4415 #bookhistory #rarebooks #knowledge #mathematics

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Scilicet - History of Knowledge @scilicetblog.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Everyone likes a good villain. One who is just waiting for a biopic about him is Gautier de Brienne (duke of Athens) who briefly became the autocratic ruler of Florence. If you want to learn more about him, give this post a read or explore others in our back catalogue! #Skystorians #Florence

scilicet.org.uk

Medieval Elections I: The Duke of Athens goes to parliament | Scilicet

In celebration of the UK 2024 general election, we delve into some intriguing and intricate elections from medieval Italy. This first one comes from 14th C. Florence and involves the mysterious Duke o...

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