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Reposted by ultima thule

Anna M. Thane @annamthane.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Enjoy reading in September! Here is a list of new #non_fiction #books about the #18thcentury scheduled for this month: regency-explorer.net/new-releases/ - updated - #Regency #Napoleon #history #18thc #JaneAusten

A compilation of 27 covers of books about the 18th century. You find the whole list by following the link in the skeet.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 21/09/2026

It was +21 C in Donaghadee today and very little wind - the last time I was here my knuckles bled after removing gloves for 5 seconds. Have some offensively bright images bc my weekend ones will take time.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 18/09/2026

Gentle Reader, I found it (the typed English translation). I’d love to say it was my superior intelligence and 10 years of non-stop search, but in fact it was all down to the author’s long-suffering wife giving his papers to an archive, and said archive making them available ❤️

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 17/09/2026

I crossed the Forth; anything could happen now.

A fragment of River Forth, looking like a misted mirror, from high above

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 13/09/2026

Fragments of Derry on a very sunny day (which I’m told happens once every three years).

Two black and white portrait images side by side, taken on a very sunny day in Derry/Londonderry. This one is a street view with some beautiful shadows and textures.

View of the steps leading into the First Presbyterian church - like the building’s ‘false’ facade, the intricate design on their side is a later addition.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 10/09/2026

“Waited over 45 minutes for service at this so called restaurant, never even got a menu, crockery or cutlery and was then told to get down from my seat by the owner. Would give zero stars if I could.”

An image of a disgruntled-looking Patterdale terrier, black with a white chest, sat at a table in a leather chair too big for him. The table appears to be completely bare. He is not impressed with the lack of service at this particular restaurant.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 07/09/2026

Unlocked a different type of archive-related challenge: docs folded lengthways, in piles held with string, and left for a couple of centuries. As writing is v. close to edges, no amount/variety of snakes or weights can now help, so had to paw them very gingerly.

An image of an A5 sized book with a sewn spine and a marbled soft cover, containing a list of books, folded mercilessly lengthways and kept in this sad state for 200 years.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 03/09/2026

Pleased I can now enter the GRH through the main door as opposed to a succession of warrens, tunnels and traps at the side. They did have to up their security ⬇️ as those lockers are really flimsy.

The Duke of Wellington statue outside the General Register House in Edinburgh, facing the North Bridge and pointing east.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 30/08/2026

Costa del Donegal, a blissfully underrated place

A portrait shot of coastal rocks and trees, with a glimpse of clear turquoise water.

A beach on a very overcast day; the gathering clouds with rare glimpses of sun highlight the colours better than any saturation could.

Coming down towards a semi-hidden beach through a forested bit and onto a path strewn with tiny white flowers.

Yet another beach with the sea in different shades of green and blue washing it very gently.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 26/08/2026

One of the expedition’s midshipmen, a certain Mr. Crozier, reportedly had a dressing case made from the wood of the Fury’s keel…

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 19/08/2026

For all of you #C18 history f[r]iends ⬇️

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 16/08/2026

And the intense “grrr” of the day goes to someone known only as I.M.T., who had 26 original C18 letters typed up in the twentieth century (chopped, xxx’ed, with clear errors all over the shop) without any thought of even indicating where he saw the originals. Yes, better than nothing, but really?!

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 09/08/2026

And this was the weekend, pretty much…

A landscape containing a pale yellow field of barley that becomes another field of barley, this last bit sunlit. Deep tractor tracks start in the bottom centre of the image; they veer slightly to the right, and then as gently, left and right again, out of sight. It is the evening and the blue of the sky had lost its harshness. In the distance, past two dark lines of trees, stands the Prop of Ythsie.

A colourful and wonderfully tasting mess of roast potatoes, chorizo and onions with parsley, on a ribbed white plate.

An image of a slim paperback book by Sir John Ross, with an impossibly long title and contents that every person tirelessly self-proclaiming an interest in the Franklin Expedition should know by heart, but has never read. The book is set against a piece of cloth showing white clouds and the beginnings of a mountain that may well be one of the Croker mountains, but is really Mount Fuji.

A black and white terrier with a light brown mush is sleeping peacefully in the lap of a jeans-clad spare human, one black paw resting on the human’s leg. The dog’s enormously big ears may indicate he is not really asleep at all.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 07/08/2026

The first published yarn re. Sir J.C. Ross promising his wife to go to sea no more comes from… /drumroll please/… his uncle John, in 1855 - allegedly relayed to the latter by Franklin! The promise was apparently given to Lady R’s “relations,” poss meaning father. 1/2 @alexandtheweb.bsky.social

An image of a page from Sir John Ross’ delightful pamphlet with a catchy title, “Rear Admiral Sir John Franklin: a Narrative of the Circumstances and Causes Which Led to the Failure of the Searching Expeditions Sent by Government and Others for the Rescue of Sir John Franklin,” published in 1855. This publication appears to be the first source to claim an alleged promise made by Sir James Clark Ross’ to his wife’s relations, as the reason for that gentleman’s retirement. Sir John Ross alleges he received this information from Sir John Franklin himself.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 07/08/2026

An interior with a Very Naughty dog

A black and white image of an equally black and white Patterdale terrier sitting in a ‘shabby chic’ old-fashioned leather chair next to the window. He is waiting for his humans to get home.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 02/08/2026

The loveliest sound of summer to me (sound ⬆️)

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 31/07/2026

Andrew Lambert’s “That nothing could be found did not prove that nothing was left; it only proved that nothing could be found” is arguably a more valuable point for Franklin Expedition researchers than his book, yet often gets completely ignored by them. (I do like the book, but the above stands).

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Reposted by ultima thule

Anna M. Thane @annamthane.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Look forward to August! Here is a list of new #non_fiction #books about the #18thcentury scheduled for next month: regency-explorer.net/new-releases/ #Regency #Napoleon #history #18thc

A compilation of 15 covers of books about the 18th century. You find the whole list by following the link in the skeet

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 25/07/2026

Here's [the future] Lord Castlereagh's grandfather disposing of some leftover money "for the use of the brave Corsicans" in June 1769. Excuse me, Sir, do you even know whom you're casually sponsoring there? #C18

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 23/07/2026

Splendid name alert - made even better by the fact that the Page part was a later [non-frivolous] addition. Someone had already expressed regret over his not having been an MP for Reading, so you don’t have to.

A screenshot from Wikipedia of Pompeo Batoni’s portrait of Sir Gregory Page-Turner, an eighteenth-century politician and apparently an avid book collector. There is alas no known connection between his name and an idiom for a particularly exciting book.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 20/07/2026

The Bone Tree is trying to look inoffensive and normal in the height of summer. It is trying too hard.

A portrait shot of a deceptively innocent tree on an Aberdeenshire estate. Covered in lush foliage from top to bottom, it almost manages to conceal its twisted true nature, visible in winter.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 11/07/2026

Some great tips re. reading handwriting in the comments. My personal nightmares are atrocious hand and non-obvs abbreviations - but surprised to see spelling as very annoying. It was certainly not consistent, but prob miles better compared to what a lot of us wd produce w/out spellcheckers.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 09/07/2026

We've reached a stage where even positive news from the GLAM sector (new Museum of Aberdeenshire) is grim due to unholy mess caused by decades of neglect and hope that skeleton staff combined with "history buffs out there" will magically sort it all out soon. www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdee...

aberdeenlive.news

Aberdeenshire Council's museum service at 'major risk' amid race to record missing items

Members of the council were told that just 10% of the region’s items have been recorded, while some had incorrect location data and no regular stocktakes were being carried out.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 08/07/2026

With sincere thanks to staff who helped make this live again -

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 06/07/2026

Why letting volunteers near an archive’s official blog is a bad decision (I hope/pray this wasn’t authored by a member of staff): 1 paragraph, several errors and purple passages that have no bearing on either the FE or said archive’s holdings. Also, what's an 'aide-de-cape' when they're at home?

A screenshot from an archive's blog post that tries - and fails - to explain the provenance of one of their collections. At 7 lines long, it is a perfect recipe for a word salad, containing a variety of simple and interpretational errors, irrelevant gossip, bizarre conclusions and misplaced sense of significance that does nothing to either highlight the collection's importance or outline its scope. It does make the reader laugh and the historian, cry.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 05/07/2026

In case anyone needs to cool down, we are having a glorious day of smirr here varied by heavier rain. I’m drenched as it’s still too warm for waterproof trews, but not complaining at all. Posting of ‘wish I was there’ pics, interrupted by the glorious wet, will resume next week.

A boring view of the main lake on the Haddo estate, surrounded by many shades of green with a heavy sky above, promising at least a few hours of rain.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 02/07/2026

The Irish Legislation Database is back - update your bookmarks!

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 01/07/2026

Prize money! Out on 14th July - May be of interest to some of you #NavalHistory #NapoleonicHistory

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 28/06/2026

Am not doing anything today except reading and maybe walking, and wishing I was still here instead of one of my least favourite places to be.

A vertical shot with nothing much in it except some fluffy white clouds, an expanse of water and a thin line of distant hills. But the water is crystal green.

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Reposted by ultima thule

Alison @finger-post.blog · 27/06/2026

Calling historians (pro or am) of Ireland: I've got some questions about how Irish victims of very serious crime were treated in the mid-late 19thC, particularly if the crime happened on colonised land outwith Ireland. Any pointers to a reliable book/paper/specialist will be gratefully received!

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Reposted by ultima thule

Anna M. Thane @annamthane.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Enjoy reading in June! Here is a list of new non-fiction books about the 18th century scheduled for this month: regency-explorer.net/new-releases/ - updated - #Regency #Napoleon #history #18thc #non_fiction #books

A compilation of 28 covers of books about the 18th century. You find the whole list by following the link in the skeet

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 21/06/2026

Some quality side eye for you from an ancient beast of Newtown-Ardes. Don’t ask me how it knows that you haven’t been doing as much research as you should have. It knows.

A detail of one of several mythical beasts surrounding the Old Market Cross in Newtownards, Co. Down. This beast has a catlike head, but that is where any similarity with cats ends. Its involuntary side eye is surprisingly human.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 08/06/2026

Greetings fm Donegal (not your usual polar hotspot) where HMS Terror paid a visit almost 189 years ago, on her return from George Back’s expedition to Hudson Bay. "Crazy, broken, and leaky," she was bound for Stromness when it became clear to Back that a nearer harbour was needed desperately. 🧵 1/9

A seascape with some hills in the distance and gentle waves in the foreground, in a very lovely part of Ireland.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 07/06/2026

Someone just can’t get enough of Strangford Lough…

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 04/06/2026

Exited my favouritest archive on a high note today, by inadvertently giving no less than 12 members of staff the task of decision making and moving the desks to support a 3x2 metre map of estates, and then shifting it edgeways so I cd take pictures. Finally to put something on my research CV.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 01/06/2026

Mount Stewart is looking beautiful now summer is properly here (very late this year). Dog included especially for @illuminator.bsky.social

A very colourful image of the Mount Stewart house and gardens in between the showers: blooms in just about every colour including green, orange, violet and white.

A single white foxglove against a bright orange background

A lichen-covered statue of a very good dog sitting patiently on the wall

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 28/05/2026

Biographer: his near-drowning experience did not in the least stop him from taking his boat out again and again. Relation: he used to love the sea till this dreadful accident, which had completely put him off it. (Biographer may not have had access to all papers, but assuming things rarely works).

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Reposted by ultima thule

Anna M. Thane @annamthane.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

‪ Enjoy reading in May! Here is a list of new #non_fiction #books about the #18thcentury scheduled for this month: regency-explorer.net/new-releases/ - updated - #Regency #Napoleon #history #18thc

A compilation of 24 covers of books about the 18th century. You find the whole list by following the link in the skeet

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 24/05/2026

Mrs. Humphrey's Mirror, Stromness

A square snap of a section of a house in Stromness. It is dominated by a window showing a distorted reflection of a part of Mrs. Humphrey's House which in 1835-36 served as "temporary hospital for scurvy ridden whale men who had been trapped in the ice for months," according to its blue plaque.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 22/05/2026

Not only am I going to buy this because it sounds interesting, but also because the thought of Wellington doing semi-furtive historical research is sending me into fits of mirth from which this is clearly the only way to recover. #NapoleonicHistory #HistBookChat

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 17/05/2026

An old favourite reminder that with historical handwriting, beautiful does not equal readable. James Clark Ross, everyone! (It would still totally make for a stunning silk scarf design)

A square image of a cross-written section from a letter by James Clark Ross to Edward Sabine, with the original colours changed to gold on black background to emphasise the meticulous, flowing lines.

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ultima thule @thethousandthpart.com · 08/05/2026

Finally getting stuck into this, @whigduke.bsky.social - the balance between great research and engaging story makes for very enjoyable reading! #HistBookChat #NapoleonicHistory

An image of the cover of “War and Diplomacy in the Napoleonic Era” by Reider Payne.

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