The irresistible search for hidden Scriptures
Eighty years ago in 1936 Cambridge University Library received a manuscript, bequeathed by its owner Agnes Smith Lewis at her death in 1926. It is […]
Continue reading »Category: Near and Middle Eastern
From Andalusia to Cambridge
This year the University Library celebrates the three hundredth anniversary of the acquisition of the Royal Library; this gift from King George I brought to […]
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Royal Asiatic Society treasures arrive on deposit
Three beautifully illustrated Persian manuscripts have been placed in the University Library on long-term deposit by the Royal Asiatic Society. Originally acquired by the Society […]
Continue reading »Colonial Postal History
The Royal Commonwealth Society Collection has published an on-line catalogue for a recent acquisition, RCMS 361, which will be of great interest to philatelists and […]
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John Flamsteed’s library
On this day in 1719 died John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, a position he held for 42 years from 1675 until his death. Quite […]
Continue reading »Collectors: John Couch Adams, a reminder about the Rose Book-Collecting Prize, and a beautiful binding.
John Couch Adams, the collector. It is this time of the year when Cambridge University Library advertised this year’s competition for the 2015 Rose Book-Collecting […]
Continue reading »Early Egyptian texts revealed; the papers of Sir Herbert Thompson
The University Library has recently acquired from the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, an archive of the personal papers of Sir Herbert Thompson, […]
Continue reading »Thomas Erpenius: an Arabist of many talents
Thomas van Erpe, or Erpenius, as he is usually known, is best remembered for his collection of Arabic manuscripts which came to the University Library […]
Continue reading »Conduct literature for and about women in Italy: a new exhibition
The display cases outside the Map Department are hosting a new exhibition entitled “Conduct literature for and about women in Italy: prescribing and describing life”. The […]
Continue reading »A Rare Books Advent Calendar: 25th December
With all good wishes for Christmas
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