Page turning in reverse: what better images for a day of reflecting on the year gone by? Despite the many unexpected things that have happened to me this year, 2018 has brought new experiences, amazing opportunities, love and laughter, and will be forever in my memory as the year I **LIVED**. So whether you’re turning over a new leaf for 2019, or simply celebrating the year past, I wish you all a very merry #Hogmanay from bonnie #Scotland, and health and happiness in 2019! Here’s to another year of marvellous medieval manuscripts! 🎉🎊🗓📖 [@uofglasgowasc MS Hunter 435 (V.5.5): Alexander of Tralles ‘Practice of Medicine’ and other texts, C12th] #uofglasgow #uofglasgowasc #uofglibrary #iglibraries #specialcollections #specialcollectionsofinstagram #archives #archivesofinstagram #libraries #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #manuscriptsofinstagram #rarebooksofinstagram #manuscripts #books #bookhistory #bookart #medieval #medievalmanuscripts #rarebooks #explorearchives #archivesunlocked
A more modern take on book history for me with today’s post! This beautiful palm-sized book of common prayer was given to me last week as a very kind get well gift from the wonderful @shahnila_shafiq. Not only is it beautiful in its size (and in the love and kindness it represents as a warmly received gift), but it’s a wonderful reminder that we likely all have a little piece of book history in our own collections, if only we look close enough! This wee book comes with a handwritten inscription on the front inside page: “To Nellie / from Mother 1899”. Better yet, when we turn to the last page, we find Nellie’s own childhood handwriting: “Nellie Samuels / Elm Drive / Station Road / Burlton* / Nr. Notts.” I can also see, in the right light, some impressions of words on the black endpapers, both front and back; I’m going to try photographing them in different lights to see what I can make out! It goes to show that books don’t need to be medieval to have a little bit of book history! Thank you, Shahnila, for this wonderful gift! ❤️📖❤️ #bookhistory #commonprayer #Victorianbooks #Victorianchildhood #historyofchildhood #childrenshandwriting #iglibraries #bookstagram #books #rarebooks #explorearchives #archivesunlocked *I think, having googled, this might actually be “Carlton” in Nottingham, as Elm Drive leads off Station Rd there. The only other Burlton I can find is in Shrewsbury, about 100 miles away from Notts. 🕵️♀️