Logic was the key first-year subject at Leuven's Faculty of Arts and remained central after the founding of the State University in 1817. KU Leuven Libraries preserves nine editions of the Tractatus de logica, beginning with the 1817 Leuven printing. (1/2)

Summer puzzle: ms. 1006, the album amicorum of Wilhelm Helbig of Würzburg. Helbig studied in Leuven (1565-1572), and around 50 fellow students left inscriptions in his album, including the physician and botanist Rembert Dodoens and his son (dated 18-19 Sept. 1574). (1/2)

A recently digitised 1878 book from the Corble Collection traces the history of warfare from Cain to Napoleon, then imagines a future where nations settle disputes by chess instead of war. A remarkable nineteenth-century vision of peace. #BookHistory #HeritageCollections #RareBooks (1/2)

Church Father Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was one of the most prolific authors of late antiquity. In 1520, Lyon printer Jacques Sacon published De civitate Dei and De trinitate. Both editions survive in more than twenty copies, including one at KU Leuven. (1/2)

From manuscript to print: early printers adopted the manicule (☞), the pointing hand used to highlight noteworthy passages. A printed example survives in this 1520 edition (R3B1883), which contains several other remarkable features we'll discuss in a future post. #BookHistory #EarlyPrintedBooks

A newly digitized 18th-c. Leuven pamphlet (Caa312) opposing Joseph II’s General Seminary reform features striking, understudied illustrations—burning buildings, devils, and satire. A rich source for book history research. For more info (in Dutch) on the text + literature, see lnkd.in/p/efHAygDb.

Along the trail, children can sit at a lectern and learn about the various craftspeople’s tasks in a playful way. On display at the University Library until 7 September. (2/2)

Based on her award-winning book Ezelsoren en wolfstanden, our colleague Katrien Smeyers has created an exhibition, with a family trail, entitled Masters of the Book. Here, you’ll meet craftspeople: the parchmentmaker, the copyist, the miniaturist, as well as the typesetter and the proofreader (1/2)

Service announcement: Summer hours apply from 6 July to 15 September. Reading rooms are open 9:00–13:00; afternoons by appointment only. Book at least one working day in advance via bijzonderecollecties-at-kuleuven.be (include time and materials). Check updates for heat-related restrictions.

Japan Emperor Naruhito & Belgium King Philippe viewed Leuven lecture notes and an annotated 2nd ed. of Vesalius’s "Fabrica" at the University Library earlier this week, during an official state visit.

No pen? Not for Louis Vandenberghe. In this late 19th‑c. ledger (ms. 2252) he added a pen holder + pocket. Ever prepared!

The not so well-known 1635 siege of Leuven, by French and Dutch troops, lives on in a propaganda battle song, now digitised in the Collectio academica antiqua. #OTD (1/2)

A printed catalogue of 1773 has been added to the manuscript. (2/2)

Look, that’s the sort of thing that really delights us: a well-thumbed manuscript that contains a wealth of information about a private library and book prices in the 18th c (ms. 1901). You’re always welcome to study this in our reading room (once the temperature has dropped a bit). (1/2)

On Wednesday 24 June, the Emperor of Japan will be visiting the University Library alongside King Philippe. For this reason, the building will be closed all day to staff, students, suppliers and external visitors. We look forward to welcoming you back on Thursday 25 June. #serviceannouncement

The primus was celebrated in a wild, days-long party with feasts, parades, flowing drinks and even fireworks. The pedagogy to which the primus belonged was declared the best of them all – that is, until next year’s competition. 4/5)

The culmination of the rivalry between the pedagogies was the yearly competition at the completion of the Arts programme. The best three students from each pedagogy were selected to compete against each other and whoever won was declared primus. (3/5)

The four pedagogies were the Pig (with the motto “The Pig raises learned men”), the Castle (“The Castle wages war”), the Lily (“Lilies flourish first”) and the Falcon (“The falcon soars above all”). Fights often broke out over which was the best out of the four. (2/5)

During the time of the Old University of Leuven (1425-1797), a crucial role in the University’s life was played by the four pedagogies of Leuven. These were 'boarding houses' where students of the Faculty of Arts lived and studied for the two years of their programme. (1/5)

This Book of Hours from Bruges (ms. 1019, c. 1430–1440) features 12 refined half-page miniatures, richly decorated borders, and multiple languages (Latin, Middle French, Middle Dutch). Created in the renowned Bruges “Gold Scrolls” workshop, it later survived the 1940 fire and is now fully digitised.

An anti-theft verse opens manuscript MS 2250: “Hunc ego possideo summo cum jure libellum; quem si sustuleris, fur tibi nomen erit.” Signed by a certain Guilielmus Hendrickx of Turnhout, a rather commun name, so his identity remains unknown. (1/2)

As manuscripts of this kind were precious family heirlooms, one of the owners inscribed the book cover in Dutch+Latin to instruct that the work be kept in good condition. While the book is no longer in the family’s possession, we are doing our best to ensure it continues to be looked after properly.

It is not only medieval manuscripts that are (sometimes) beautifully illuminated. What about this genealogy of the Van Cuyck family? This manuscript (ms. 1896) was updated over many decades, perhaps even centuries, which explains the different styles in the illustrations.

And here is the last image, on the sight.

The five senses were a popular allegorical theme in 17th-c. European art, often represented in beautifully detailed series of engravings. Two student notebooks from our collection contain the same charming set of five engraved emblems: De tactu, De auditu, De visu, De odoratu, and De gustu.

It’s our birthday! Special Collections is celebrating its tenth anniversary on 1 May. Would you like to know what we’ve achieved over the past ten years? Then head over to bib.kuleuven.be/english/spec....

‘A young horse, whose mouth is still tender, grows accustomed to the hand that guides it. You are young; strive to form sound principles and to acquire virtuous habits. A new vessel retains for a long time the scent of the first liquid it has received.’

Do we really need to introduce Erasmus’s *Praise of Folly*? This satirical work in Latin was first printed in 1511—without the author’s permission—and went through countless reprints. Translations soon followed: the first French translation dates from 1520 and the first Dutch one from 1560.

If you are in the Louvain area over the next weeks, you are welcome to visit the 'Hellas was here!' exhibition. This exhibition, which explores the influence of New Ancient Greek in the Low Countries, is open at the University Library until 24 May. Some works from Special Colls will be on display.