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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · 1d

The celestial Molyneux globe in a glass case in Middle Temple library

Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · 1d

Having a lovely time today learning about the Molyneux Globes @middletemple.bsky.social as part of their study day on “Middle Temple and the World”

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Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · 2d

Today was my last day as Special Collections Photographer at @stjohnsox.bsky.social. I am proud to say that I am responsible for most of the 100+ individual items now available on Digital Bodleian from SJC's special collections. You can view them all here: digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/partners/st-...

Photograph of the Canterbury Quad in St John's College

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · 4d

MLGB is such a valuable resource, and I'm thrilled to see it back online. I'm also excited that I will be contributing to the next phase. Starting in December, I will take on a new role as MLGB Project Researcher at the Bodleian, alongside my ongoing work at Exeter. Keep an eye out for updates!

Richard Ovenden @richove.bsky.social · 5d

MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

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Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · 25d

Here is the final cover, with an endorsement from the wonderful Claire Martin, a dear friend and author of "Heirs of Ambition: The Making of the Boleyns". Claire's quote sums up how I hope people feel after reading the book: "Elizabeth Boleyn, so nice to finally meet you!"

Cover of "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother"

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Leo Cadogan @leocadogan.com · 25d

Just sent to me by @sianwitherden.bsky.social who did some great work for me on this. So pleased to see this Jacobite roll so happily settled.

www.ilovelimerick.ie/rare-jacobit...

Rare Jacobite manuscript presented to the Limerick Museum

Rare Jacobite Manuscript Presented to the Limerick Museum. Dr Zara Power (Limerick Museum Assistant Curator), Dr Matthew Potter (Limerick Museum Curator), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Heavey Technology Limerick...

www.ilovelimerick.ie

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Dr Eleanor Baker @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social · Sep 1

A little while ago I was interviewed by the lovely Julian Morrow at ABC Radio about my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Publishing book ✨Book Curses✨, and it aired a few weekends ago!

The colourful language of book cursing - ABC listen

Books have always aroused strong emotions in people. So much so that book owners throughout history have written curses in the front of the book to deter their theft or damage. Some of them are funny ...

www.abc.net.au

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Aug 5

I’ve really enjoyed settling in to my new role as Early Printed Books Cataloguer this week @exeter.ox.ac.uk, there are exciting projects ahead!

The Radcliffe camera in Oxford as seen from Exeter College

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Suzanne Karr Schmidt @drkarrschmidt.bsky.social · Jul 23

Now You See It...Now You DON'T!

Master magician Ricky Jay was a big fan of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which recently (and briefly) caught on fire! In honor of Ricky and the ephemerality of all good things, here I am showing off the Newberry's 18th c. Blow Book like Ricky once taught me.
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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Jul 14

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Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · Jul 14

I am indebted to Dr Claire Martin, @sylviabso.bsky.social , @melitat.bsky.social , @claireridgway.bsky.social and @sianwitherden.bsky.social for reading early drafts and offering advise, expertise, and endorsements. Without your encouragement and guidance, this book would not be what it is.

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Jul 14

I’m so proud of Sophie for all of her hard work on this amazing project. It has been an absolute pleasure to see this book come into existence, and it was a privilege to read early drafts. The cover reveal is stunning!

Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · Jul 14

Cover reveal 📖 I'm so excited to reveal the cover of my first book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother", which is due to be published on 23 October 2025! You can pre-order it here: thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/... (a 🧵)

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Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · Jul 11

If you'd like to read more about the medieval manuscript fragments in the St John's Library collection, check out this blog post by @sianwitherden.bsky.social: stjohnscollegelibraryoxford.org/2022/09/13/m...

Medieval Manuscript Fragments

Sian Witherden, Resource Description Librarian ‘Poirot!’ I cried. ‘This is a fragment of a will!’ […] My brain was in a whirl. What was this complication of a will? Who had destroyed it? The person…

stjohnscollegelibraryoxford.org

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Rhiannon Garth Jones @rhigarthjones.bsky.social · Jul 9

This seems to have resonated on here too (I cannot tell you how happy this makes me) so I'll add some of the reasoning:

I asked a lot of friends & family who are not academics (often not readers of non-fiction what they would do if they wanted to know more about a topic they were interested in).

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Rhiannon Garth Jones @rhigarthjones.bsky.social · Jul 9

A lot of people have mentioned they loved the 'Want to Know More?' section of my book – basically an annotated bibliography but with a clear statement on citation ethics (shout out to Sara Ahmed) and a focus on *accessible* scholarship.

That means blogs, podcasts, books for a popular audience.

🧵

Photo of text from the book _All Roads Lead to Rome_ by Rhiannon Garth Jones. The text reads:

Want to know more?

‘Citation is how we acknowledge our debt to those who came before; those who helped us find our way when the way was obscured because we deviated from the paths we were told to follow.’
Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life, Duke University Press, 2017.

There are so many scholars whose brilliant work I have relied upon to form my thoughts in the process of researching and writing this book. Here, I have highlighted the people whose research I particularly relied upon and suggested some of their public scholarship that you might enjoy, if you want to learn more. I have included podcasts and writing intended for a popular audience, as well as books that you might be able to find in your local bookstore or library. These suggestions are organised by chapter to help the reader, although, of course, the influence of these scholars is not limited to just one section or chapter.

This is intended as a way for me to properly acknowledge those who helped me find my way and as a place for interested readers to start exploring. If you are looking for a more exhaustive list of references, a full bibliography follows.

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Allie Alvis 🌷 @book-historia.bsky.social · Jul 7

This is really neat! And here’s a better link: pacscl.org/what-we-do/f...

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Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden

Julia Walworth @juliawalworth.bsky.social · Jul 2

In 17c Netherlands you could enjoy drinking your cool beer from a ‘book’. Very nice blindstamped boards, raised bands, fore-edge ties. #Rijksmuseum #Bookart

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Jul 1

I really enjoyed writing this mini-series of blog posts on 'How to collate an early printed book' for
@teachingcodex.bsky.social, who have just migrated to Bluesky. Be sure to give them a follow!

teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla...

How to collate an early printed book

This mini series by Dr Sian Witherden (Rare books and manuscripts specialist) explains how to collate early printed books. These blog posts work through several practical examples from the Bodleian…

teachingthecodex.com

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Mary Boyle @maryrboyle.bsky.social · Jul 1

We've brought Teaching the Codex over to Bluesky to celebrate our fantastic new series by @sianwitherden.bsky.social, 'How to collate an early printed book' (yes, we're adopting the new technology of moveable type).

Teaching the Codex @teachingcodex.bsky.social · Jul 1

Ever wished someone would sit down and explain how to collate an early printed book? The marvellous ‪‬@sianwitherden.bsky.social has done exactly that in a brand new series for Teachable Features: teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla... #bookhistory #incunabula #teachingcodex

How to collate an early printed book

This mini series by Dr Sian Witherden (Rare books and manuscripts specialist) explains how to collate early printed books. These blog posts work through several practical examples from the Bodleian…

teachingthecodex.com

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Reposted by Dr Sian Witherden

Teaching the Codex @teachingcodex.bsky.social · Jul 1

Hello Bluesky! We're an interdisciplinary project on the teaching of palaeography and codicology, and we're now branching out to include early printed books. Check out our website for lots of learning resources: teachingthecodex.com

Teaching the Codex

Pedagogical Approaches to Palaeography and Codicology

teachingthecodex.com

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · May 31

This was always one of my favourites when I was working at St John’s, it’s great to see it online!

Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · May 31

The frontispiece of Roland of Lisbon’s Reductorium physiognomie (SJC MS 18) is available online! It was illustrated between 1425 and 1550 by William Abell, an English illuminator.

digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/23ac...

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Oxford Bibliographical Society @obs1922.bsky.social · May 21

Our next talk! Come along to hear Paul Nash on some of printing's earliest riddling questions.

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Apr 4

What connects Pisces to the feet? 🐟👣

My new blog post for @lampallib.bsky.social explores Zodiac Men diagrams, focusing on a 16th century printed book of hours currently on display in 'Unfolding Time'. This wonderful exhibition is free and open until May!

monumentoffame.org/2025/04/04/u...

The Zodiac Man page in a book of hours printed by Wynkyn de
Worde (London, 1526). Lambeth Palace Library, [ZZ]1526.2, sig. B1v.

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Apr 1

I didn't know this, that's really fascinating!

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Apr 1

The letter also mentions Howard Nixon, Edmund Poole, Chatto, and Norah Smallwood.

I thought I’d share this here because I’m sure I can’t be the only one who thinks this is a beautiful snapshot in time!

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Apr 1

It looks like Viney decided to keep this letter inside his copy, which has a beautiful bookplate: ‘Rosamund & Elliott Viney’.

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Dr Sian Witherden @sianwitherden.bsky.social · Apr 1

Painter’s words to Viney are poignant: ‘Like Blades you will have prolonged the memory and inspiration of Caxton, and all he stands for, during a century to come.’

The verso of a letter from George Painter to Elliott Viney (3 December 1976)

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