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rcpmuseum.bsky.social
RCP museum
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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The Royal College of Physicians museum, heritage library, archive & garden in Regent's Park | History, medicine, art & modernist architecture | Exhibitions & events
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rcpmuseum.bsky.social
For over 500 years, the @rcphysicians.bsky.social has been collecting treasures of medicine – from early anatomy texts, to physicians’ portraits & rare instruments.
Through the new Adopt a Treasure campaign, help us fund the conservation of rare & significant items.
👉 www.rcp.ac.uk/support-us/p...
A conservator works delicately with a paintbrush on one of the RCP paintings. The open title page of a book by Thomas Linacre. Close up of the hand of a conservator using a brush to repair a gold leaf frame. A rare 19th century print of 'A history of vaccination' with the word 'Jenner' large in the centre. Painted by Stephen Jenner, the nephew of Dr Edward Jenner
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
24 November is #WorldWalrusDay. These dapper examples are from William Jardine's Naturalist's Library of 1838. The book describes how the animals' 'coating of oily fat' (blubber) enables them to 'repose on their icy beds without inconvenience'.

Anyone else got a good walrus to share? #RareBooks
Print of an adult walrus and two pups on a rock in the sea with polar bears and ice in the backdrop from William Jardine's Naturalist's Library of 1838.
November 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Book now for your chance to see the incredible Wilton Psalter up close & create your own illuminated letter in our workshop on Sat 29 Nov.
Join artist Sarah Davis to create your own beautiful letter complete with 23ct gold leaf!
👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/illumi...
@rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed
November 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Frankenstein Myth Busting!

Have you seen Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, and are you wondering how much is rooted in actual medical history? Let’s have a closer look in our latest blog:
history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/franken...

*Warning! Contains spoilers!*

@rcphysicians.bsky.social #Histmed
Close up of an anatomical table displaying a dissected human nervous system.
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
On 17 Dec from 6pm, join the RCP Garden team for an evening of tea tasting & blending featuring ingredients in the Medicinal Garden. Inspired by recipe books in the RCP archives & led by expert gardeners create a blend to take home or give as a festive gift!

Book 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g...
A flyer titled 'Teas form the Garden' surrounded by colourful dried herbs A cup of her tea being poured into a tea cup.
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Inspired by the Psalter, on 29 November join artist Sarah Davis for an all day practical workshop to create your own illuminated letter to take home or give as a festive gift.

Discover an array of medieval techniques & materials, including 23ct gold leaf!

Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/illumi...
A close up of Sarah Davis' hands as she paints an illuminated letter Photo of artist Sarah Davis at her workbench
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
The oldest European book in our collection is the stunning illuminated Wilton Psalter made for the nuns at Wilton Abbey in c.1250, likely by the monastic scriptorium in nearby Salisbury Cathedral.

Each of the 150 Psalms from the Christian Bible begins with a large illuminated initial letter.
A page from the Wilton Psalter showing a beautifully illuminated capital letter. An illuminated letter created using the Wilton Psalter as inspiration
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Explore striking art installation Making Visible by doctoral researcher Catherine James & exhibition 'A body of knowledge' Mon 10 Nov. With an exclusive intro from Harveian Librarian Anita Simonds @anitaks.bsky.social!
👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/making...

@rcphysicians.bsky.social #BodyOfKnowledge
Visitors examine the portrait and some of the covered books that feature in Making Visible. A woman leans over the a display case containing open books in the exhibition.
November 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
The @rcphysicians.bsky.social Heritage Library has many texts that explore topics beyond what we might think of as typical in a 'medical' library. Discover some of the highlights in exhibition 'A body of knowledge' open at the RCP until July 2026.
👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
Exhibition graphic showing the text: A body of knowledge Discover 500 years of book collecting at the Royal College of Physicians 10 September 2025 - 23 July 2026 Exhibition | Free entry
November 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
'They will first appeare like so many starres and when the starres are spent… they will run wrigling to and fro like Serpents'

This is a description of 'fisfigs', incredibly dramatic firework designs in 'Pyrotechnia' by J Babington, 1635.

👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/light-b... - Don't try at home!
A printed illustration of fireworks display in the shape of a dramatic scene with a floating fortress, sea monsters and castles. A printed illustration of men using tools to shape and pack fireworks. A printed illustration of fireworks in the shape of St George on a horse and the dragon.
November 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
We are delighted to announce a virtual winter lectures for exhibition 'A body of knowledge' is open to book 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

🗓️ 6pm GMT, 9 Dec, £5
😍 Featuring a virtual exhibition tour & fascinating lectures from @awickenden.bsky.social & @samuscript.bsky.social!

#LibraryHistory
Image of an open anatomy book showing a skeleton and other books in cases in the exhibition. Open books in cases in the exhibition, the nearest book is in Arabic.
November 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Feeling spooky? Here are 3 Memento Mori to visit at the Museum: history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/feeling...
#halloween #mementomori #callingallskeletons
Skull ring encrusted with amethyst
October 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
We've also had 2 lovely days of making - bookmarks, illustrated letters, origami, stencils, prints & more!

You can join us for more crafts every morning this week - book now or drop by from 10.30am - 12.30pm. Just make a small donation to take part

👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events
#BodyOfKnowledge
Three children showing off their collection of crafts including, origami, bookmarks and illustrated letters. A selection of crafts made by children including, origami, bookmarks and illustrated letters.
October 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for a fabulous story-time with the amazing Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social!

Vanessa created a unique tale all about the library of the RCP. There was music, puppets, pretend flames, smells, a disco ball & books!

@rcphysicians.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Happy #IntersexAwarenessDay!

These doctor’s notes give an insight into the life of a teen in 1830 who today might refer to themselves as #intersex. Working as a household servant there is the suggestion they lost their job due to being intersex. Discrimination still faced by many today.

#Histmed
An extract of handwritten doctors notes referring to a teen in 1830 who today might refer to themselves as intersex.
October 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Did you know the @rcphysicians.bsky.social lost nearly its entire library in the Great Fire of London?
Storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social
has created a fabulous story all about the library, join us Mon 27 Oct to discover more!

Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events

#BodyOfKnowledge
October 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
The workshop will take inspiration from the beautiful 13th century Wilton Psalter on display digitally in ‘A Body of Knowledge’. With the artist we will peel back the layers to understand how our medieval counterparts created these beautiful illuminated letters.

@rcphysicians.bsky.social
A page from the Wilton Psalter showing a beautifully illuminated capital letter. An illuminated letter created using the Wilton Psalter as inspiration
October 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Join us Sat 29 Nov for an all day practical workshop to create your own illuminated letter to take home or give as a festive gift.

Artist Sarah Davis will lead the session using an array of medieval techniques & materials, including 23ct gold leaf.

Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/illumi...
A close up of Sarah Davis' hands as she paints an illuminated letter Photo of artist Sarah Davis at her workbench
October 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
One of the student halls at the University of Lagos is called the Kwaku Adadevoh Hostel to acknowledge the legacy & contributions made to the University by its 4th vice-chancellor. But who was Kwaku Adadevoh & what did he do?

Discover👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/remembe...

#BlackHistoryMonth #BHM
A black and white photo of Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh, a black man with short hair and moustache wearing a suit with white shirt and tie.
October 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Did you know the RCP Heritage Library has over 50,000 books? 🤯

Storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social has created a fabulous story all about the library & its secrets. Join us next Mon 27 Oct for #halfterm to discover more!

Book now 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events

#BodyOfKnowledge
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
We didn't know there was a #NationalOpossumDay! Thanks for sharing.

We've found a slightly judgemental opossum in our collections by Edward Tyson. One of his 'Drawings of natural history and comparative anatomy' in his Manuscripts, 1693.

Less curls more claws . . .

#OpossumDay #RareBooks
A hand drawn illustration of an opossum by Edward Tyson.
October 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Chitqua gifted Askew this sculpture, in gratitude as his patient, or for his hospitality. It's made from clay brought from China with a bamboo frame. Due to its fragility, only 4 examples like this of his work have survived. Askew’s daughter, Lady Deborah Pepys, donated it to the Museum in 1831.
An hand-written extract for the RCP annals listing donations to the college in 1831. The highlighted text reads: 'A clay model of Dr Askew - by Lady Pepys' The clay sculpture of Anthony Askew by Chitqua out of its case for inspection. The sculpture shows a white man in a grey curled wig sitting on a rocky outcrop dressed in red robes and holding a gold-topped physicians cane.
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
At first glance, this sculpture of physician & RCP registrar, Dr Antony Askew perhaps looks European in pose & fashion: Askew’s physician’s cane, robes & wig are faithfully modelled. However, the rocky landscape where Askew sits, underpins its Chinese style.
The clay sculpture of Anthony Askew by Chitqua front view. A white man sitting on a rocky outcrop dressed in red robes and holding a gold-topped physicians cane. The clay sculpture of Anthony Askew by Chitqua rear view. A man from behind with a grey curled wig sitting on a rocky outcrop dressed in red robes.
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
#BehindTheScenes at the museum today we have one of our more delicate collection objects out - an amazingly rare sculpture by the ‘Ingenious Chinese artist’ Chitqua, (Tan Che Qua) c. 1728–1796.😍

ICON accredited conservator Alexandra Kosinova ACR is evaluating the statuette for a potential loan.🔍
The clay sculpture of Anthony Askew by artist Chitqua, a white man sitting on a rocky outcrop dressed in red robes and holding a physicians cane being inspected. The clay sculpture of Anthony Askew by artist Chitqua, a white man sitting on a rocky outcrop dressed in red robes and holding a physicians cane being inspected closely with a torchlight by conservator Angela Kosinova.
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Linacre’s own translations of the works of Roman physician Galen became useful resources for medical students at a time when the @rcphysicians.bsky.social exams were based on 17 Galenic set texts.
Learn more in our current exhibition #BodyOfKnowledge.
👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
A title page form one of Thomas Linacre's translated Latin texts. A title page form one of Thomas Linacre's translated texts by Galen.
October 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM