James_AL_Downs
@magiclantern.bsky.social
Writer: 'Anton Walbrook' (2020) 'Joseph Pike' (2018) & 'A Carnal Medium' (2012), photohistorian, archivist of Middle East collections at Exeter University, runs the Digital Archive of the Middle East (https://dame.exeter.ac.uk/), collector & bibliophile
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Are you interested in how people thought about the past in Middle Ages? Want to understand the books they wrote about it? We have an online short course for you! Book now for January 2026 👇 #MedievalSky palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Writing History c. 1000-1250: An Introduction to the Manuscript Sources – a short course taught by Charlie Rozier, Manuel Muñoz García and Laura Cleaver
The course will run online from 14:00-17:00: Monday 26 January – Thursday 29 January 2026. The past was a popular subject for writers in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries, partic…
palaeography.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Are you interested in how people thought about the past in Middle Ages? Want to understand the books they wrote about it? We have an online short course for you! Book now for January 2026 👇 #MedievalSky palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Italian Authorities Arrest 55 Suspects in Major Archaeological Looting Probe in Sicily.
#looting #heritagecrime #tombaroli #metaldetecting #transnationalorganisedcrime #illicitexcavations
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/ital...
#looting #heritagecrime #tombaroli #metaldetecting #transnationalorganisedcrime #illicitexcavations
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/ital...
Italian Authorities Arrest 55 Suspects in Major Archaeological Looting Probe in Sicily
"A blog about art crimes, illicit trafficking, forgery, art theft and cultural heritage protection."
art-crime.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Italian Authorities Arrest 55 Suspects in Major Archaeological Looting Probe in Sicily.
#looting #heritagecrime #tombaroli #metaldetecting #transnationalorganisedcrime #illicitexcavations
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/ital...
#looting #heritagecrime #tombaroli #metaldetecting #transnationalorganisedcrime #illicitexcavations
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/ital...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the walruses, for today is their special day!
To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks
To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks
November 24, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the walruses, for today is their special day!
To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks
To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
NEW ARTICLE: Yemeni coins trace relations between pirates, merchants, and enslavers that traversed the North American, Arabian, & Madagascar coasts in the 1690s and shed light on colonial material exchange.
#vastearlyamerica #arthistory
journalpanorama.org/article/a-tr...
#vastearlyamerica #arthistory
journalpanorama.org/article/a-tr...
A Trail of Coins from Yemen to New York: Pirates, Plunder, and Enslavement in the World of Margrieta van Varick, ca. 1695 - Panorama
Panorama is a peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication dedicated to American art and visual culture (broadly defined). The journal is intended to provide a high-caliber international forum for d...
journalpanorama.org
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Yemeni coins trace relations between pirates, merchants, and enslavers that traversed the North American, Arabian, & Madagascar coasts in the 1690s and shed light on colonial material exchange.
#vastearlyamerica #arthistory
journalpanorama.org/article/a-tr...
#vastearlyamerica #arthistory
journalpanorama.org/article/a-tr...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Classic Short Fiction: Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani’s ‘My Secret Picture’
Palestinian short-story writer, publisher and translator Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani (1914-1974) writes about love, loyalty, and gender expectations in the early twentieth century.
Palestinian short-story writer, publisher and translator Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani (1914-1974) writes about love, loyalty, and gender expectations in the early twentieth century.
Classic Short Fiction: Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani’s ‘My Secret Picture’
Palestinian short-story writer, publisher and translator Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani (1914-1974) writes about love, loyalty, and gender expectations in the early twentieth century.
arablit.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Classic Short Fiction: Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani’s ‘My Secret Picture’
Palestinian short-story writer, publisher and translator Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani (1914-1974) writes about love, loyalty, and gender expectations in the early twentieth century.
Palestinian short-story writer, publisher and translator Mahmoud Saif al-Din al-Irani (1914-1974) writes about love, loyalty, and gender expectations in the early twentieth century.
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
The secret mission to save Gaza's historical artefacts
Palestinians scramble to save centuries-old books and manuscripts before they are lost
With a ceasefire in effect in Gaza, a restoration team is painstakingly retrieving historical manuscripts, rare volumes, and archival documents from beneath the rubble of a destroyed mosque.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 23, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The secret mission to save Gaza's historical artefacts
This carte-de-visite of one of my Fraser ancestors has always intrigued me
November 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This carte-de-visite of one of my Fraser ancestors has always intrigued me
Poltimore
Kentmere Pan 400
Kentmere Pan 400
November 23, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Poltimore
Kentmere Pan 400
Kentmere Pan 400
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
I used to handle interlibrary loans for a public library. ILL is a magnificent expression of the idea that readers deserve books, and books deserve readers. It’s libraries everywhere pooling their resources for the benefit of everyone.
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries
Press Release: Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Adm...
librarytechnology.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I used to handle interlibrary loans for a public library. ILL is a magnificent expression of the idea that readers deserve books, and books deserve readers. It’s libraries everywhere pooling their resources for the benefit of everyone.
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Have been ill this week but will add more new drawings to my website very soon to keep things bubbling along, in the meantime these are all available if you like my stuff, and you might.
www.chloecumming.com
www.chloecumming.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Have been ill this week but will add more new drawings to my website very soon to keep things bubbling along, in the meantime these are all available if you like my stuff, and you might.
www.chloecumming.com
www.chloecumming.com
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
This has to be the funniest @churchtimes.bsky.social headline of the year, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 19, 2025 at 9:43 AM
This has to be the funniest @churchtimes.bsky.social headline of the year, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Looking forward very much to reading this: 'The Indigenous Right of Reply to #Archives : Working towards Indigenous Sovereignty, Healing, and Justice in Archival Practice
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Looking forward very much to reading this: 'The Indigenous Right of Reply to #Archives : Working towards Indigenous Sovereignty, Healing, and Justice in Archival Practice
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
✨ Stand Up to Racism at Exeter Library.
Exeter Library & Stand Up To Racism Exeter are joining forces to create a wonderful afternoon of celebrating local diversity with a free family-friendly gathering of food, music, activities and more...
SUN 30 NOV
12.30 - 15.30
FREE DROP-IN
Exeter Library & Stand Up To Racism Exeter are joining forces to create a wonderful afternoon of celebrating local diversity with a free family-friendly gathering of food, music, activities and more...
SUN 30 NOV
12.30 - 15.30
FREE DROP-IN
November 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
✨ Stand Up to Racism at Exeter Library.
Exeter Library & Stand Up To Racism Exeter are joining forces to create a wonderful afternoon of celebrating local diversity with a free family-friendly gathering of food, music, activities and more...
SUN 30 NOV
12.30 - 15.30
FREE DROP-IN
Exeter Library & Stand Up To Racism Exeter are joining forces to create a wonderful afternoon of celebrating local diversity with a free family-friendly gathering of food, music, activities and more...
SUN 30 NOV
12.30 - 15.30
FREE DROP-IN
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
20 Nov-20 Dec 2025 is UK Disability History Month (UKDHM). #UKDHM platforms the history of disabled people's struggle for equality and human rights. Find out more at www.ukdhm.org.
Check out our DHM display in the Forum Library and explore more resources on our LibGuide: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibUKDHM.
Check out our DHM display in the Forum Library and explore more resources on our LibGuide: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibUKDHM.
November 20, 2025 at 11:06 AM
20 Nov-20 Dec 2025 is UK Disability History Month (UKDHM). #UKDHM platforms the history of disabled people's struggle for equality and human rights. Find out more at www.ukdhm.org.
Check out our DHM display in the Forum Library and explore more resources on our LibGuide: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibUKDHM.
Check out our DHM display in the Forum Library and explore more resources on our LibGuide: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibUKDHM.
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
The second volume of the series “Exploring Assur” presents the results achieved at ancient Assur chiefly in its New Town, through fieldwork and analyses undertaken in 2024 by the Assur Excavation Project. Out on open access and available for purchase: www.pewe-verlag.de?page_id=3198
ExA-2 | PeWe-Verlag
www.pewe-verlag.de
November 19, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The second volume of the series “Exploring Assur” presents the results achieved at ancient Assur chiefly in its New Town, through fieldwork and analyses undertaken in 2024 by the Assur Excavation Project. Out on open access and available for purchase: www.pewe-verlag.de?page_id=3198
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Don’t miss the first talk in the WOMNH (Women in Natural History Museums and Collections) Online Fall Seminar Series! Monday 24 November 2025, 4:00–5:00 pm CET
by Louise Berridge (NHM London): “Women of the Riverflies”
by Louise Berridge (NHM London): “Women of the Riverflies”
November 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Don’t miss the first talk in the WOMNH (Women in Natural History Museums and Collections) Online Fall Seminar Series! Monday 24 November 2025, 4:00–5:00 pm CET
by Louise Berridge (NHM London): “Women of the Riverflies”
by Louise Berridge (NHM London): “Women of the Riverflies”
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
The historic architecture of Ethiopia and Eritrea: a complete overview
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/the-histor...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/the-histor...
The historic architecture of Ethiopia and Eritrea: a complete overview
The modern countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea are home to some of the best-known historic architectural monuments in Africa.
www.africanhistoryextra.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The historic architecture of Ethiopia and Eritrea: a complete overview
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/the-histor...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/the-histor...
On the road to Jasana
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
On the road to Jasana
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Part of Castlerigg Stone Circle overlooking a misty valley in Cumbria.
#StandingStoneSunday
#StandingStoneSunday
November 16, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Part of Castlerigg Stone Circle overlooking a misty valley in Cumbria.
#StandingStoneSunday
#StandingStoneSunday
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Spoliation d'œuvres d'art en Tunisie pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : "Un voyage sans retour"
Spoliation d'œuvres d'art en Tunisie pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : "Un voyage sans retour"
Depuis plusieurs années, la question des biens culturels africains spoliés pendant la période coloniale a été mise en lumière. Mais qu’en est-il de la période de la Seconde Guerre mondiale ? Alors que les études se sont largement concentrées sur l'art européen, des chercheurs se penchent aujourd'hui sur le destin des œuvres africaines. Parmi eux, le professeur Sofiane Bouhdiba, de l'Université de Tunis, qui a enquêté sur le contexte tunisien durant le conflit.
www.france24.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Spoliation d'œuvres d'art en Tunisie pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : "Un voyage sans retour"
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
November 14, 1152 BCE: the first recorded workers' strike occurred in ancient Egypt under Pharaoh Ramses III. Artisans and laborers working on the royal tombs at Deir el-Medina stopped working in protest of delayed and insufficient rations, a form of wages. collezioni.museoegizio.it/en-GB/materi...
November 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
November 14, 1152 BCE: the first recorded workers' strike occurred in ancient Egypt under Pharaoh Ramses III. Artisans and laborers working on the royal tombs at Deir el-Medina stopped working in protest of delayed and insufficient rations, a form of wages. collezioni.museoegizio.it/en-GB/materi...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Kindness comes in many forms. It may just be sharing your fruit with a good friend (which we would like to think is what's happening in this illustration!).
📷 Illustration of a malbrouk and a mandril from 'Animated Nature' (1828); Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldKindnessDay #KindnessDay #RareBooks
📷 Illustration of a malbrouk and a mandril from 'Animated Nature' (1828); Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldKindnessDay #KindnessDay #RareBooks
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Kindness comes in many forms. It may just be sharing your fruit with a good friend (which we would like to think is what's happening in this illustration!).
📷 Illustration of a malbrouk and a mandril from 'Animated Nature' (1828); Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldKindnessDay #KindnessDay #RareBooks
📷 Illustration of a malbrouk and a mandril from 'Animated Nature' (1828); Reserve 590 BUF
#WorldKindnessDay #KindnessDay #RareBooks
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
SUPPORT MERIP: Show your support for MERIP by picking up a poster or a tote bag today!
Merchandise
MERIP is pleased to offer a limited quantity of merchandise items. New items will be added to this page as items become available, and announcements of newly available items will be made on our…
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
SUPPORT MERIP: Show your support for MERIP by picking up a poster or a tote bag today!