Beth DeBold
@elizaaudacis
History PGR at Newcastle University | apprenticeship, women, and gender in the long 18c English book trade | previous librarian | New Englander in Old England | no terfs | she/her
This is a great early label in a volume of 17c Catholic tracts in English, from a parochial lending library in Westmorland (@ncllibspeccoll.bsky.social Hev. Tracts vol. 37)
Although…I’m not sure what to think. I thought the spider been made into paper initially because I was sure the fibres of the leaf went over its body; but this could just be old mould, and the spider doesn’t go all the way through the leaf…
Important notes: the little cross at the very beginning of the word is how the author writes her “and” (“+”) as in these examples: (“+ had” and “+I”)
Opening this up to the palaeography hive mind because I’ve been staring at the word underlined in red for hours (slept on it, too) and it may kill me
Very proud of @18thcenturysam.bsky.social, who has been awarded a prize from @hassfacultyncl.bsky.social for her smashing thesis on erotic books!
The blackbirds have been wreaking havoc on my planting beds this year but look, he’s just a little guy at the scene of his crimes
Today I went looking for the index of apprenticeship disputes in the Lord Mayor's Court of London, ed. by Prof Michael Scott. Google's AI has helpfully suggested I watch a relevant video "for a look into historical London apprenticeships and the disputes handled by courts during that era:"
Pls enjoy this comic moment from Hilda Runciman’s diary, as she & Walter sailed around Italy in April 1938: During a gust a tragedy happened to our worthy but lugubrious looking chief officer. His cap was blown off + alas next his hair blew off too a distressing revelation, +irreparable loss!
May the Fourth Be With You (scenes from the music of Star Wars with the Royal Northern Sinfonia)
The item in question is a sermon preached in Newcastle by Thomas Maddison, printed by Newcastle’s first major printer, John White. Still in contemporary wrappers, too (and with a lovely headpiece)
A close up of the label. I need to do a bit of work to see whether I can track down Amelia; this item came from Ian Reilly Books in West Lothian, so has a Scottish provenance, but so far little luck with my initial searching…
Even better, a progression of dated pencil marks throughout show how a family likely worked their way through the text a day at a time, as pedagogically recommended. We can see what words Amelia(?) might have struggled with, and what words (“mon Dieu!”) might have been objectionable #herbook
Another delight from this weekend’s book fair in Edinburgh: a contemporary leather label belonging to an Amelia Keir pasted in a sammelband of installments of L’Ami des Enfants, a late 18c children’s serial, “d’un petit format portatif pour les Enfans.” #herbook
Pretty cool thing in a Newcastle imprint from 1760: a paper tear repaired before printing
The Capricorn Cake from clove coterie’s astrology cakes series is ready to go—a vanilla poppyseed olive oil sponge with blueberry and rosemary compote filling, a vanilla cake soak, and a violet-chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream
You are using war powers without congressional approval? Believe it or not, jail!
Pretty pleased with what my Spotify wrapped says about me: Bach (a top 2% global fan !); Fleetwood Mac; Charli xcx; Be Good Tanyas; and Stan Rogers
Friendsgiving plate 2025: green bean casserole (with from scratch mushroom soup, natch); sweet potato casserole with marshmallow; macaroni & cheese; Brussels sprouts with gochujang butter & walnuts; mashed potatoes; cranberry sauce; turkey; onion gravy
The Friendsgiving turkey has arrived and is looking particularly plump
JQ has met snow directly for the first time today; as with everything, he met it with bonne humeur and a desire to see if something good to eat might result