iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nele Popp @neleppp.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Can't believe I am organising an international workshop! I am very thankful to all my colleagues and the co-organisers for making this happen and for all the support along the way. Now I am very excited to meet all the speakers and attendees in October!

000

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

An International Workshop on the UK Prize Papers and the American War of Independence: Wartime Lives, Capture, and Transnational Exchange - for more information and the sign up links follow www.hsozkult.de/searching/id...

0107

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The Polly, seized in July 1776, looked like an ordinary merchant ship hauling oil, candles and flour. In truth, she carried a secret mission: passenger William Hodge held orders to buy muskets, gunpowder and warships for Congress—papers he threw overboard moments before capture #skystorians #history

Digital Copies of a letter from the owner of the ship Polly, Joshua Maddor Wallace, to the ship's captain, Philip Lacey, with the address on the folded letter in the top right corner. Credits: Prize Papers Project, National Archives, ref. HCA 32/424/26/SP2. Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, UK. Photographer: Maria Cardamone

1238

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

On 3-4 July 1776, as Philadelphia finalised the Declaration of Independence, four American merchant ships were seized off Cape Henlopen, Delaware by the British, and taken to New York Bay. Papers from the Adrian, Fidelity, and Peggy were likely lost. More soon on the Polly's secret mission

Text: Amanda Bevan and Nele Popp
Picture: Regina Schönecker, Seascape after Wigerus Vitringa, 1782-1785, Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, https://www.nga.gov/artworks/34937-seascape.

12012

Reposted by Nele Popp

Melinda Haunton @melindahaunton.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

This just *keeps* happening to us. (This is a great, great story, about brilliant work in the now and fascinating print diffusion in the past. Come and see the exhibition which is STUFFED with this kind of story.)

03712

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Rare find at the National Archives UK: earlier this year, the volunteer Michael Scurr at TNA discovered one of the earliest prints of the US Declaration of Independence in the Royal Navy Captains’ letters collection and can be linked to our collection as it travelled on the American privateer Dalton

nationalarchives.gov.uk

Finding a new copy of the US Declaration of Independence

In May 2026, a volunteer working on a cataloguing project at The National Archives made an astonishing discovery.

14419

Reposted by Nele Popp

Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The Prize Papers team, led by Dr. Amanda Bevan at the UK National Archives, has been finding so many historical treasures and discoveries. Here, a rare Copy of the Declaration of Independence —captured by a British warship from an American privateer off the Coast of Spain in 1776–

nytimes.com

Rare Copy of the Declaration of Independence Is Discovered in London

69035

Reposted by Nele Popp

Graham Moore @mooregraham.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

we have some fun 4 July news over at The National Archives! a new copy of the US Declaration of Independence, with an amazing story behind it (privateers! printers! prisoners!) - but also, a find that shows the power and importance of our volunteering and cataloguing projects.

theguardian.com

‘Vanishingly rare’ copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

One of 11 surviving copies of ‘Exeter printing’ and only one known outside US was taken from American privateer ship

715046

Reposted by Nele Popp

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Actually, it was a volunteer archivist at The National Archives, Kew called Michael Scurr who found it, not the "UK" that found it. (with a sharing link for 3 non-subscribers). giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

giftarticle.ft.com

UK finds lost US Declaration of Independence copy after 250 years

Document revealed by National Archives ahead of its anniversary on Saturday

725472

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Our colleague, Dr Oliver Finnegan, records specialist for the Prize Papers at @nationalarchivesuk, holds a workshop on 'Practical Archival Skills Training (PAST) Workshop on English High Court of Admiralty Records', more info below & tickets can be booked here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-...

Workshop Announcement: Practical Archival Skills Training (PAST) Workshop on English High Court of Admiralty Records. 18 June 2026 at the UK National Archives. Banner with an archive image in the background.

11614

Nele Popp @neleppp.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

For us, a captured cargo ship is almost routine. What was found on board the Anne-Marie? That's another story entirely. Join the roundtable and hear it from the researchers themselves!

000

Reposted by Nele Popp

Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

📢JOYCE YOUINGS MEMORIAL LECTURE📢 Prof. Jane Whittle: Work & gender, status & power: the surprising history of everyday chores in early modern England 🗓️ 28 January, 3pm 📍 Uni of Exeter & Zoom All welcome at this public 🗃️ lecture, register for your place: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-joyce-...

A very detailed embroidering depicting men and women undertaking various work tasks. These include spinning, harvesting wheat, picking fruit, sheering sheep, carrying water and so on. Each task is labelled with the name of the month. Credit: The Labours of the Months, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

15336

Nele Popp @neleppp.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Excited to restart the series this year and cannot wait to learn how you can be mad at a colour? 🌊⛵

000

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Next week @lhaasis.bsky.social and @neleppp.bsky.social are welcoming Jean Soulat for the Prize Papers Talks Special Edition with the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven! Sign up here to learn more about a pirates‘ lair: www.eventbrite.com/e/ships-seaf... #earlymodern #maritimehistory

0135

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Juan León Hidalgo and Sebastián Pastor were two Spanish passengers on the Fort de Nantes. They kept with them small personal archives with letters from relatives and friends. #earlymodern #maritimehistory #skystorians

The text and metadata were produced by Alejandro Salamanca. Prize Papers Project, National Archives, ref. HCA 32/111D/19/PAS1. Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, UK. Photographer: Maria Cardamone

1127

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Join @lhaasis.bsky.social and @neleppp.bsky.social next week on November 24th for the next session of this year's Prize Papers Talks, Ships & Seafaring 1500-1800, with Randolph Cock from the National Archives! Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ships-seaf...

1147

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Antonio Navarro was a passenger on the Fort de Nantes. He carried some family letters, including one from his daughter, as well as various recipes and remedies - see below for some selected documents #early modern #maritimehistory #skystorians

The text and metadata were produced by Alejandro Salamanca. Prize Papers Project, National Archives, ref. HCA 32/111D/14/NAV8. Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, UK. Photographer: Maria Cardamone

1115

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Francisco Ortiz, originally from Santoña, was appointed as shipmaster of the Fort de Nantes by the Spanish charterer, Francisco Sánchez de Madrid. His personal archive, comprising more than 500 documents, reveals many details about his personal life and his social relationships.

The text and metadata were produced by Alejandro Salamanca -
@desvelandooriente.com. Prize Papers Project, National Archives, ref. HCA 32/111D/4/ORT53. Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, UK. Photographer: Maria Cardamone

11412

Nele Popp @neleppp.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

I am honoured to represent the project at "Transcribir América" this week and I am excited for the different talks and perspectives on loss of information through errors and misunderstandings.

000

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

I am happy to announce that our dear colleague and associated researcher in the Prize Papers project Alejandro Salamanca @desvelandooriente.com has just published a new book: A Microhistory of Early Modern Transatlantic Migration The Frigate Agata (1747). Congratulations! #earlymodern #history

13612

Nele Popp @neleppp.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

This week we’re launching the ship papers of the Fort de Nantes! Check out the thread by Alejandro Salamanca @desvelandooriente.com #earlymodern #history #maritimehistory #skystorians

014

Reposted by Nele Popp

The Prize Papers Project @prizepapers.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

From today, we will release the documents related to the Fort de Nantes, a French ship chartered by Francisco Sánchez de Madrid, a merchant from Cádiz, to travel to Veracruz and Havana. It was captured by two ships of the British Navy on January 5 1747, on its journey back and taken to Plymouth.

11811