iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Migrations. From ‘Ortus sanitatis’ (Mainz: Jacob Meydenbach, 23 June 1491). Inc.3.A.1.8[37] @theulspeccoll.bsky.social cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-INC-...

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

✒️ "Written & Edited by his Wife" Join us for a research talk by Dr Grace Exley who will explore how women’s hands have shaped our impression of some of the most famous scientists of the nineteenth century. 21 Oct, 5-6.30pm Cambridge University Library Book your FREE ticket loom.ly/KpzUmgM

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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

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A pleasingly bookish (and quite small) bookplate for one Thomas Robinson, Fellow of Merton College Oxford. Engraved by James Hulett no later than 1771. In a copy of Gabriel Vásquez’s commentary on Aquinas (Lyon, 1620). Now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Peterborough.Q.5.9.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Congratulations to Senior Building Services Technician Peter Matlock on an incredible 40 years at Cambridge University Library! Peter retires this month and leaves behind a fantastic legacy of hard work and dedication. Watch his Day in the Life video: loom.ly/BGBgots

youtu.be

Day in the Life: Peter Matlock

Cambridge University Library (the UL)

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

‘To the generous reader’ in John Scott’s ‘Foundation of the Universitie of Cambridge’ (c. 1620), presumably by Scott himself, an heraldic painter & member of Clare College. This copy now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social MS Gg.5.21.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We have recently acquired a collection of bus maps! Read all about it here: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=32284

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Harry Spillane @harryspillane.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

One month until the release of 'Selling the Word of God' on Sep 24th. All at Bodleian Publishing have done a wonderful job in producing a beautifully illustrated book! Available to pre-order now from: bodleianshop.co.uk/products/sel... (10% discount with code: SWG10) 1/3

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Trade catalogue of ‘Novels & Romances’, annotated with the classmarks of copies held at @theul.bsky.social. It was printed in 1846, so a year too early for e.g. ‘Wuthering Heights’, which was added by hand to a list at the end. ULIB 7/3/23 @theulspeccoll.bsky.social

Pages from an annotated printed trade catalogue of ‘Novels & Romances’.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Our Conservator Bryan recently worked on an eighteenth- or nineteenth-century album of medieval manuscript fragments. Read all about the project on our blog! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=32460

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The oldest known printed bookplate, probably made c. 1480 for books donated by Hilprand Brandenburg to the Carthusian monastery of Buxheim. Found in a sequentiary (a service book containing hymns or chants sung during mass), printed at Reutlingen in 1490. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social SSS.15.3.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A deliciously pointy manicule. In a copy of Pope Pius II’s letter to Mehmed II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Printed by Ulrich Zel at Cologne c. 1469-72. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social of @quaritch1847.bsky.social in 1894 & now Inc.5.A.4.1[242].

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Extremely blingy gilt centrepiece on this ten-volume edition of the works of St Augustine, printed at Paris in 1586. Now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social, part of the library of Peterborough Cathedral. Pet.U.3.1-12.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Two golden elephants, denoting the ownership of Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753) of Narford Hall in Norfolk. On a copy of a work by St Methodius of Olympus (d. circa 311) printer at Basel in 1498. Now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.5.C.1.12[2364]. #worldelephantday

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Blue hydrangeas were everywhere on the Llŷn Peninsula last week, so it was a treat to be able to look at some in @theulspeccoll.bsky.social today. Siebold & Zuccarini, ‘Flora Japonica’ (1835). S370.a.83.3 @theul.bsky.social

Details of coloured illustrations of blue hydrangeas in a printed book.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Stomping into #WorldElephantDay with this wonderful 16th-century elephant! 🐘 This elephant and castle is the device (or printer's mark) of Parisian printer François Regnault (d.1540). From Bishop Guillaume Fillâtre’s history of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1517). 📖Sel.2.65

A 16th-century black-and-white woodcut printer's mark showing an elephant with a castle-shaped structure strapped to its back. The castle holds a shield featuring the monogram "FR," and a banner below reads "FRANCOYS REGNAULT."

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Ulrike Graßnick @ulrikegrassnick.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Annoyed. #SolarEclipse #Sonnenfinsternis #medievalsky Cambridge, University Library MS Gg.1.1, f. 378v @camdiglib.bsky.social @theulspeccoll.bsky.social

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

‘Common Ephemera, or May-Fly’. From Edward Donovan’s ‘The natural history of British insects’, vol. 4, (London, 1795). S391.c.79.4 @theulspeccoll.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social #WeekEforEphemera #AlphabetChallenge

Hand-coloured printed illustration of a mayfly.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Some wonderful side-eye from both Virgin and Child in this fifteenth-century woodcut. In the ‘De spiritualibus ascensionibus’ (Cologne, c. 1498), a work of mystical philosophy by the Dutch writer Gerard Zerbolt of Zutphen. Zerbold taught Thomas à Kempis. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social SSS.47.1[3].

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

A wistful but golden sun! From a binding made in Bologna in the 1530s by the so-called ‘Pflug & Ebeleben Binder’ (named after two of his customers, Damian Pflug & Nikolaus von Ebeleben). On a copy of Celsus ‘De Medicina’, printed at #Venice (Aldus) in 1528. Now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Rel.c.52.6.

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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📣New exhibition alert!! 👀 We are excited to announce new exhibition 'Patient voices: power, truth, understanding' will be opening on 14 September 2026 at the RCP - exploring the lived experience of healthcare. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #PatientVoices

A exhibition graphic with the title and dates of exhibition. Included is a black and white photo of a smiling woman sitting in a hospital bed.

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Helophilus pendulus, ‘The footballer’, from Edward Donovan’s ‘The natural history of British insects’, vol. 1 (London, 1792). S391.c.79.1 @theulspeccoll.bsky.social #Hoverflies #Diptera

Hand-coloured printed illustration of a yellow and black Hoverfly next to a pink flower.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

An engraved vignette showing a scholar in his study: books lining the walls & busts looking down. From the title page to Charles de Rochefort’s ‘Histoire naturelle des îles Antilles de l’Amérique’ (Lyon, 1667), on the geography & natural history of the Caribbean. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social S.5.65-66

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Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Delighted to welcome ‘Global Plant Lives’ Global Humanities Summer School students to @theul.bsky.social today for a session co-hosted by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social and our Natural History Humanities initiative at @camglamresearch.bsky.social. Phones came out to snap this Brachystelma barberæ!

Colour illustration of Brachystelma barberæ; a group of people taking a photo of the illustration.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A twinky vignette from the title page of the vast ‘Annales Ecclesiastici’, a history of the first twelve centuries of Christianity begun by Cesare Baronio (Vatican Librarian). First published in 1588, this edition (in 34 volumes) was printed at Lucca 1738-59. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social 5.31.1-34.

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

An impression from a piece of fallen type - an error in the printing process captured forever. In a copy of Constantius Applanus’s ‘Soliloquiorum’, printed at Cremona in 1496 and given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Stephen Gaselee in 1934. CUL Inc.5.B.20.5[4036]. #fallentype #incunabula

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Two more weeks to see some of our lovely Historical Printing Room collections in the @rcpmuseum.bsky.social exhibition!

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The crest of St John’s College Cambridge, in John Scott’s ‘Foundation of the Universitie of Cambridge’ (1620s). The text (which exists in several copies) lists benefactors & gifts. Scott was an heraldic painter and a member of Clare College. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social MS Gg.5.21.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

A scrapbook donated to our Royal Commonwealth Society collection - about schoolboys' tours into the British empire - tells us much about the interconnected themes of colonialism & public education, emigration, class, & gender in the empire. Learn more: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=32144

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Happiness is when your illuminated Venetian Breviary is deliciously on-brand for the second week of Wimbledon. 🍓🎾🍓 This stunning page features little strawberries set against a gold-leaf background. It comes from a Breviary printed in Venice in 1490. Inc.6.B.3.47c[3693].

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Peter Tarras @petertarras.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Just returning from a fantastic workshop with Cambridge University Library's Genizah Research Unit where I got to see a Hexapla palimpsest, Maimonides's autographs and many other treasures. The colleagues there are lovely too!

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The gilt arms of Thomas Brudenell (1578-1663), first Earl of Cardigan. On a copy of the Chronicles of England printed at Westminster by William Caxton in October 1482. One of two copies given or bequeathed to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Samuel Sandars in the 1890s. CUL SSS.41.4.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Charles Darwin changed how we see our place in nature – but how did he build his theories? 🗺️🌱 We’re currently cataloguing his personal library, full of annotations and notes that chart his transformation from a curious student to influential scientist. Find out more: loom.ly/xeloI8E

A composite image: the background is an aged, yellowed manuscript page filled with handwritten cursive notes in dark ink. In the top left corner is a sepia-toned circular portrait of a young, clean-shaven Charles Darwin. Text overlay reads: "A major new project is underway at Cambridge University Library to create an online catalogue of Darwin's personal library."

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The woodcut device of Parisian printer Gilles de Gourmont, one of three brothers (Robert and Jean) engaged in the book trade. He was the first Parisian printer to produce books entirely in Greek. From a copy of his 1507 edition of Pomponius Mela, now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Peterborough.C.6.3.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Happy centenary to Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. First published in June 1926, it’s a stone-cold classic that changed crime fiction forever. Have you read it? Let us know in the comments – but please, no spoilers for those lucky enough to be reading it for the first time 🤫

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Gorgeous bronze & horn gift label, recording the donation of this volume to Bury Grammar School by one William Buckberd in the summer of 1565. It contains four works printed in Cologne & Antwerp in the 1560s, including Cato’s Distichs & Aesop’s Fables. Now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Bury.48.7.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

An exciting project to catalogue Charles #Darwin's personal library is underway! Learn about it in our latest blog: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=32108

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

SUN! 🌞 From Jacopo Caviceo’s ‘Libro del Peregrino’ (Parma, 1513), a tale of star-crossed lovers first published in 1508 and later translated into French and Spanish. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Tc.52.51.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

May Balls: how fares thee the morrow after the eve afore? Which image do you most relate to? #MayBalls #YeOldeHangover #MedievalMemes #CambridgeUniversityLibrary

A grid of four square panels numbered 1 through 4, containing hand-drawn medieval manuscript illustrations against a textured cream background.

Panel 1 (Top Left): Shows a figure with short blonde wavy hair wearing a brown tunic, leaning forward and extending their hands outward over a green bowl.

Panel 2 (Top Right): A close-up of a figure with blonde wavy hair wearing a brown tunic, looking toward the left with wide eyes and a downcast, troubled facial expression.

Panel 3 (Bottom Left): Depicts the top of a blonde-haired figure's head looking straight up at a large sword.

Panel 4 (Bottom Right): A figure in a reddish-orange tunic holding a golden platter. Atop the platter rests a disembodied head wearing a white hood or coif, which faces left with a neutral expression.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️ Here is an excellent personification of the great golden orb in the sky, complete with impressive side-eye 👀 Hand-coloured wood cut from Theoricarum novarum textus Georgii Purbachii cum... expositione Domini Francisci Capuani, 1515 (Norton.b.14).

A close-up detail of a hand-coloured woodcut from a corner border, depicting a personified sun with a human face looking downward with a grumpy, unimpressed expression.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

400 years ago today, a codfish was gutted at Cambridge Market. 🐟 Inside it was a tiny book containing Protestant texts from the early years of the English Reformation. Was this a providential message from God, a piece of political propaganda or an elaborate hoax? Music by Julius H. from Pixabay

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Our latest blog is all about newly catalogued material in the Royal Greenwich Observatory archive. specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31753

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The disarray of the books in this woodcut makes me anxious. From Cicero’s ‘Tusculanae quaestiones’, printed at #Venice in 1516. This copy came to England in the sixteenth century and was in @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by 1715. Shelfmark L.15.18.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Curiosity, history and community. That’s the Cambridge spirit behind our 2026 #LGBTQ+ #PrideMonth book display! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🫶 Find it in the South Reading Room throughout June.

A vibrant book display celebrating Pride Month. Multiple books about LGBTQ+ history, theory, and media are arranged on a tiered white stand atop a table covered in a rainbow flag. Two windows are visible in the bright, soft-focused background.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

We've recently added Coptic papyri from our Michaelides Collection to our Digital Library (@camdiglib.bsky.social)! Read all about it in our latest blog. specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31713

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Emily Dourish @emilydourish.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Right, next time we get @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Audubon out for visitors it will definitely be the heron plate rather than the flamingo!

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Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The pineapple-themed bookplate of the excellently named Thomas Boultbee Parkyns (d. 1833). In a work by the German Jesuit and scientist Gaspar Schott, printed at Würtzburg in 1657-59 and part of the library of Cambridge astronomer John Couch Adams. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Adams.6.65.2-3.

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Did you know that Cambridge University had a farm? Its archive is held @theul.bsky.social and the University Archivist explores its history in our latest blog! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31573

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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Our latest blog is a guest post by Linda van Rheinberg, a student at Heinrich Heine University (Düsseldorf) who spent time examining medieval manuscripts @theul.bsky.social with her fellow students earlier this year. Read all about it here! specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31935

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