@sibyllacumae.bsky.social
rare bookseller, renaissance platonist, memory worker, kitchen gardener. now based in philly.
newsletter: https://twohalfsheets.substack.com
newsletter: https://twohalfsheets.substack.com
Back briefly to show you this great mossy rock
November 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Back briefly to show you this great mossy rock
I just saw someone on here express doubt about the value of teaching grammar, so I’m going to log off for the day and enjoy the forest 😊
November 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I just saw someone on here express doubt about the value of teaching grammar, so I’m going to log off for the day and enjoy the forest 😊
Reposted
"I must tell you that a horoscope which has been cast for my younger son shows that he will be pope, but I'm very much afraid he's more likely to be the antichrist."
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
Reading letters from the Princess Liselotte of Palantine, the German sister-in-law of Louis XIV, and it's wild because she had this super informal writing style that almost sounds like modern texts
Like at one point she goes "wish to god my son didn't love holding chunks of bread like a peasant"
Like at one point she goes "wish to god my son didn't love holding chunks of bread like a peasant"
November 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"I must tell you that a horoscope which has been cast for my younger son shows that he will be pope, but I'm very much afraid he's more likely to be the antichrist."
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
Daughters-in-law gravy drama. I’m trying to bow out. I don’t want this.
November 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Daughters-in-law gravy drama. I’m trying to bow out. I don’t want this.
It’s so beautiful here
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
It’s so beautiful here
Reposted
From my father's annual butter turkey to you, happy Thanksgiving 🖤
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
From my father's annual butter turkey to you, happy Thanksgiving 🖤
Reposted
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A Provincial Market in Second-Hand Books: Book Sales in Devon, 1688–1725
Abstract. Comparatively little is known about England’s early book-auction trade outside of London and the university towns, with few catalogues surviving
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
I’m in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 5 years, and I had forgotten what it’s like to be deep in the big dark misty pine forest at night. A darkness I don’t often experience. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I’m in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 5 years, and I had forgotten what it’s like to be deep in the big dark misty pine forest at night. A darkness I don’t often experience. Happy Thanksgiving!
Reposted
25th of November was the feast of St Catherine of Alexandria, who is here depicted with sword and wheel, and foot firmly planted on the back of the foe.
BL Add MS 54782; 'The Hastings Hours'; c.1480 CE; Ghent or Bruges; f.68v
BL Add MS 54782; 'The Hastings Hours'; c.1480 CE; Ghent or Bruges; f.68v
November 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
25th of November was the feast of St Catherine of Alexandria, who is here depicted with sword and wheel, and foot firmly planted on the back of the foe.
BL Add MS 54782; 'The Hastings Hours'; c.1480 CE; Ghent or Bruges; f.68v
BL Add MS 54782; 'The Hastings Hours'; c.1480 CE; Ghent or Bruges; f.68v
Reposted
My annual traveling turkeys post! What do you do when a New World bird visits the Mughal court? Paint it in miniature, of course! This essay by Neha Vermani follows the Muslim reception of our feathered friends.
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
The turkey's journey from the Atlantic to the early modern Islamic world | Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore. Jo...
www.folger.edu
November 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
My annual traveling turkeys post! What do you do when a New World bird visits the Mughal court? Paint it in miniature, of course! This essay by Neha Vermani follows the Muslim reception of our feathered friends.
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
Choosing a gift for the four-year-old niece I am meeting for the first time tomorrow, I was overwhelmed by the picture book options and how so many seem to have thinly disguised lame morals like “learn to share” and “regulate your toddler emotions”
November 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Choosing a gift for the four-year-old niece I am meeting for the first time tomorrow, I was overwhelmed by the picture book options and how so many seem to have thinly disguised lame morals like “learn to share” and “regulate your toddler emotions”
Reposted
Today's theme is - not actually cards, but weird enough to merit sharing. First up - the cover of Farmer's Wife. What did he do? Is he still thankful? Is she thankful that she doesn't have to put up with him at Thanksgiving dinner? So many questions. #thanksgiving #farmlife #stocks
November 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Today's theme is - not actually cards, but weird enough to merit sharing. First up - the cover of Farmer's Wife. What did he do? Is he still thankful? Is she thankful that she doesn't have to put up with him at Thanksgiving dinner? So many questions. #thanksgiving #farmlife #stocks
Reposted
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center's Christina Vortia on Dorothy Porter and Black children's books
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center's Christina Vortia on Dorothy Porter and Black children's books
Our Bright Young Librarians series continues today with Christina Vortia, Chief Librarian at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University in Washington DC.What is your role at your insti...
www.finebooksmagazine.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center's Christina Vortia on Dorothy Porter and Black children's books
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
If Da Pope excommunicates Vance I will convert to Catholicism
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
If Da Pope excommunicates Vance I will convert to Catholicism
How many books is unreasonable to take on a cross-country Thanksgiving trip? 4? Unfortunately I’m 2/3 through a 700p. book which I’m going to carry and probably finish on the plane…
November 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
How many books is unreasonable to take on a cross-country Thanksgiving trip? 4? Unfortunately I’m 2/3 through a 700p. book which I’m going to carry and probably finish on the plane…
On a more cheerful note, I’ve been frantically banging out an illustrated list with a spooky occult theme just in time for Christmas 😅 look out early next month!
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
On a more cheerful note, I’ve been frantically banging out an illustrated list with a spooky occult theme just in time for Christmas 😅 look out early next month!
Restraining myself from posting on ex-libris about ViaLibri’s “AI research tool” that their “ceo” claims to be building with listing data. Not worth the fight this Thanksgiving Eve, and I suspect people’s responses would disappoint me.
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Restraining myself from posting on ex-libris about ViaLibri’s “AI research tool” that their “ceo” claims to be building with listing data. Not worth the fight this Thanksgiving Eve, and I suspect people’s responses would disappoint me.
Reposted
Nice case of a fake '1584 Viterbo' edition, undoubtedly printed in Paris in the 1620s.
The give away ?
The coat of arms of Marie de Medici engraved on the title page with the royal crown of France...
#bookhistory
The give away ?
The coat of arms of Marie de Medici engraved on the title page with the royal crown of France...
#bookhistory
November 25, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Nice case of a fake '1584 Viterbo' edition, undoubtedly printed in Paris in the 1620s.
The give away ?
The coat of arms of Marie de Medici engraved on the title page with the royal crown of France...
#bookhistory
The give away ?
The coat of arms of Marie de Medici engraved on the title page with the royal crown of France...
#bookhistory
Reposted
Our books are inherently non-commercial, art objects. I talk about this a lot in bookshop circles but, people don't hesitate to support dance, visual art, and other modes of artistic expression that are totally nonprofit but culturally valued. Why do people not apply that to books and literature?
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Our books are inherently non-commercial, art objects. I talk about this a lot in bookshop circles but, people don't hesitate to support dance, visual art, and other modes of artistic expression that are totally nonprofit but culturally valued. Why do people not apply that to books and literature?
Also, the idea that the proposed exercise is necessary to teach students that LLMs aren’t “primary sources” is baffling to me. There seems to be something very wrong with the teaching about what a primary source is if that’s the case.
These assignments encourage people to become DIY detectives, exacerbating a boom in conspiracy theories. The “permission structure of doubt” normalises suspicion as a default setting and suggests that another algorithm (like Google’s search) can discover the truth.
By @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social:
By @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social:
AI-Generated Images Are Spreading Paranoia and Misinformation. Can Art Historians Help?
An art historian argues that provenance research—rather than connoisseurship—is our best tool for authentication.
www.artnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Also, the idea that the proposed exercise is necessary to teach students that LLMs aren’t “primary sources” is baffling to me. There seems to be something very wrong with the teaching about what a primary source is if that’s the case.
Reposted
This is not the way, and @cnygren.bsky.social and I lay out in detail why it isn’t in this essay here. static1.squarespace.com/static/55577...
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This is not the way, and @cnygren.bsky.social and I lay out in detail why it isn’t in this essay here. static1.squarespace.com/static/55577...
Please watch Swan Song
Oh, man. One of cinema's most reliable weirdos, and I mean that in a highly complimentary fashion. RIP.
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Udo Kier, German Actor Who Appeared in ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ ‘Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein,’ Dies at 81
Udo Kier, a German actor who collaborated with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna, died on Sunday morning. He was 81.
variety.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Please watch Swan Song
Reposted
How is it that college administrators get paid high salaries to come up with such dumb ideas, over & over again...? Is there someone who will pay me for dumb ideas? If you really want I can come up with plenty (and even some good ones as well) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/n...
November 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
How is it that college administrators get paid high salaries to come up with such dumb ideas, over & over again...? Is there someone who will pay me for dumb ideas? If you really want I can come up with plenty (and even some good ones as well) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/n...
Reposted
I wish more reporting on this made the point that novelists won't be displaced by LLMs suddenly producing literature instead of story mulch, but because decision makers focused only on the bottom line, who don't understand what makes a good book, will be persuaded story mulch has got 'good enough'.
New research by @mctd.bsky.social shows the impact of generative AI on authors in the UK. They found over a third of novelists report their income has already been negatively impacted by AI and 85% expect their future income will be negatively impacted.
www.mctd.ac.uk/impact-of-ge...
www.mctd.ac.uk/impact-of-ge...
Impact of Generative AI on the Novel
A report examining how literary creatives being affected by GenAI and what measures they want see implemented by the government to protect the UK’s literary scene.
www.mctd.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I wish more reporting on this made the point that novelists won't be displaced by LLMs suddenly producing literature instead of story mulch, but because decision makers focused only on the bottom line, who don't understand what makes a good book, will be persuaded story mulch has got 'good enough'.
Reposted
Reading Luther, but drawing a big X through his face so everyone will know I'm against it.
Dominican #censorship
Fun fact: in the Bibliotheca Casanatense, book theft didn’t just get you in trouble—it got you excommunicated on the spot. (At least that’s the warning that was hung up at the library)
#earlymodern #bookhistory
Fun fact: in the Bibliotheca Casanatense, book theft didn’t just get you in trouble—it got you excommunicated on the spot. (At least that’s the warning that was hung up at the library)
#earlymodern #bookhistory
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reading Luther, but drawing a big X through his face so everyone will know I'm against it.