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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A little bouquet of surprise flowers in the endleaves of British Library Additional MS 15227, Fol.101v to Fol.102r 🌼🌸🌷🪻🌻

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Plaintive but hopeful elephant 🐘♥️ Please be nice to him British Library Sloane MS 3794: Fol.5r

Drawing of an elephant with it's back to the viewer raising it's trunk to the sun

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Variations on a theme of tea-staining your homework? Arts Treasury, 1688, p.119

Detail from Arts Treasury
TEXT
To make new writing look old, and of long standing
Take a dram of Saffron and infused it into half a pint of Ink, and suffer it to warm over a gentle fire, and it will cause whatever is written with it to turn yellowish and appear as if of many years standing

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Today's rabbit hole (or tree labyrinth). Love the little gardener 🥹❤️🪏👒 Ralph Austen, A Treatise of Fruit Trees or Spiritual Use of an orchard, 1653

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Poetry and maths side by side - just how we like it here at STEMMA Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 142, Fols 11v - 12r

Photo of an open manuscript: one page covered in calculations (and spilling over onto the next page) and poetry on the other

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A verse letter about a dog-seal! 🐕❤️💌 Bodleian MS Add. A. 267: Fol.28r

Close up of a manuscript
TEXT: the subscription, the letter being sealed with a sealed whereon portrayed a dog

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Getting ready for the new academic year: 17th century undergraduate Simon Sloper writes his term dates into his commonplace book in 1619 Bodleian MS Eng. poet. f. 10: Fol.52r

Manuscript page from Bodleian MS Eng.poet.f. 10

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Naomi Baker @drnaomibaker.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

An English woman insisting on inclusive language in 1684! The main text refers to “man” and Ann Bathurst corrects this in the margin - “that is … men & women” #earlymodern

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Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) @csmc-hamburg.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

What happens to written artefacts after their initial production? Steffen Döll, head of our new ‘Phased Transmission’ unit, on material and invisible transformations, provenance, archives, and the challenge of developing concepts that work across cultural contexts: uhh.de/csmc-cmu-3

uhh.de

Moving Through the Life Phases of Written Artefacts

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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."

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

An extra John Heywood poem- or a misattributed nineteenth-century forgery? @caitlinburge.bsky.social looks at a mysterious supposed variant of 'Give Place You Ladies' and John Payne Collier's forgeries in Folger Va339 and the imitation of Henrician poets stemma.universityofgalway.ie/give-place-y...

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Artjoms Šeļa @artjomshl.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

It’s the first paper in a themed issue on computational poetics we’re co-editing with @nmhouston.bsky.social for CHR journal! Lucky to have this contribution from Erin

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Erin A. McCarthy @erinannmcc.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Just about ready to go! Shoutout to the amazing @stemma.bsky.social team for finding the perfect setup for today’s variety show without me asking (or even knowing). ⭐️

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This was not even the most exciting seagull behaviour @erinannmcc.bsky.social and @meghankern.bsky.social witnessed while buying last-minute ink-making supplies today

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Meghan Kern @meghankern.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Come figure it out with us. @stemma.bsky.social is hosting an open (to everyone) Early Modern palaeography training session on the afternoon of 23rd July, at @universityofgalway.bsky.social in the Arts Millenium Building, Room AMB-G012

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

As promised! The @uniofgalwaycasscs.bsky.social has generously provided support for two days of public-facing ms activities this July. The events will be free of charge, and there is funding for ECR travel (defined as ≤7 years post-PhD, with preference for those not yet in permanent employment). 1/

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Erin A. McCarthy @erinannmcc.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Not to brag or anything, but three of these projects are from my department. (cc: @stemma.bsky.social)

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

STEMMA will be hosting its inaugural Manuscripts Week this year starting 20 July. Watch our socials for details, including opportunities to get involved.

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Dr Leah Veronese @leahveronese.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

'Scattergood' feels like an excellent name for a commonplacer @stemma.bsky.social

Screenshot from STEMMA database
TEXT
Add. MS. 44963
Commonplace book of Anthony Scattergood

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

What's your reading style? Over stimulated spaniel. 🐕 Robert Burton Anatomy of Melancholy

Photo of text
TEXT
This rouing humour... I haue euer had, and like a ranging Spaniel that barked at euery bird he sees, leauing his game, I haue followed all sauing that which I should, and iustly complaine, and truly... that I haue read many books but to little purpose, for want of good method, I haue confusedly tumbled outer many Authors in our Libraries, with small profit, for want of art, order, memory, iudgement

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Does MS actually stand for Mouse Snack? 🤔🐭 Summary Catalogue, Vol.III, p.321

Photo of an excerpt from the summary catalogue
TEXT
Many of the poems are mutilated by mice having gnawed the outer lower margin

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

They just don't write love poetry like they used to 🪰❤️ (Thomas Carew, 'When this flie lived', in Rosenbach MS 239/27)

'Of a fly flying into his mistress's eye'

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Dr Leah Veronese @leahveronese.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Love some poetic waste paper ☕ Marginal note recorded in Summary Catalogue description of Rawl. poet. 25 @stemma.bsky.social @bodleian.ox.ac.uk 'The Originall Copy is by mee. Given me by my Brother Mr John Woodford who bought it among other broken books to putt up Coffee pouder, as I remember.'

Photo from the Summary Catalogue

'The following notes by Woodford are on foll. ii, 131v: 'The Originall Copy
is by mee. Given me by my Brother Mr John Woodford who bought
it among other broken books to putt up Coffee pouder, as 1 remember.'

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Erin A. McCarthy @erinannmcc.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Rick-rolled by BL Add. MS 45964 (cc: @stemma.bsky.social)

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Daniel Bellingradt @dbellingradt.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

WFH in 1770*

A man wearing a crown sits outside (at night) at a desk watching the stars with a telescope. On the desk is a globe, a compass, and a book. This detail is from a larger image printed in 1770 (VD18 10030565).

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UK-Ireland DH Association @ukiedh.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Registration is open for our 2026 Annual Event (15–16 June, University of Southampton and online). This year’s theme is 🥬 Sustainability 🥬. In‑person fees £35 (£20 students and unwaged); online is free. Register & find out more: digitalhumanities-uk-ie.org/2026-annual-... #DH #Sustainability

digitalhumanities-uk-ie.org

2026 Annual Event | UK-Ireland Digital Humanities Association

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Erin A. McCarthy @erinannmcc.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Previously undiscovered source for ABBA? @stemma.bsky.social

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

May the force be with you too, Thomas Beaumont! Happy Star Wars day, as brought to you by 17th century manuscripts 🪐🚀👽

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

In proving there's a poem (1475-1700) for everything, see: 'Reader I must present you with a shrimp fish' of which there are only two copies (?!) (One with the last two lines scribbled out (?!)) [Folger MS V.a. 345; p. v] #folgerfinds

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Dr Leah Veronese @leahveronese.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

HELP WANTED!! @stemma.bsky.social I am working on Folger MS V.b.370, a self-proclaimed 'Rich Cabinet'. The compiler clearly loved giving their MSS ostentatious titles, my favourite being 'My Merchant Ship Laden with Variety of Wares'. Ever come across these MSS titles below? Please get in touch 1/3

Photo of the title of Folger MS V.b.370 written in large italic and framed by two squiggling lines

TEXT: 'a Rich Cabinet or Common Place Book

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

In code? Is it just how words start to look at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon? [Data from Bodleian MS Add. B. 106, f. 28v]

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Erin A. McCarthy @erinannmcc.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Hey, look, this is finally out! jdj.journals.usask.ca/article/view...

jdj.journals.usask.ca

View of “Very Little Different from What They Are Now?”: Digital Technology and Donne’s Future Editor

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

I *could* go home for the evening, but it's much more fun to stay in my office and confirm that there is, in fact, a digitised image of this gem. (Houghton MS Eng 686, ff. 33v–34r)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

John Donne, who died #otd 31 Mar 1631 painted aged 49, that is around 1622. British School (Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

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Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Keen to gain a better understanding of handwriting from the Early Medieval through to the Early Modern period? Our Summer School course could help! Book your place now 👉️ ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini... Bookings close 22nd May 2026, bursary deadline 7th April. #palaeography #paleography #LIPS26

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

The team's latest database enhancement request is for an animated confetti graphic that celebrates each 1% change in data cleaned, and you know what? That's fair.

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STEMMA: Systems of Transmitting Early Modern Manuscript Verse @stemma.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Just got new team photos for a forthcoming website update. Here's a sneak peek! 🤩

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