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bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Bodleian Libraries
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
37K followers 91 following 900 posts
Amazing collections and breath-taking libraries. Facilitating research at the University of Oxford.

Readers: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Visitors: visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
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bodleian.ox.ac.uk
The traditional Bodleian Oath which every reader is required to read aloud on seeking admission to the Bodleian Libraries. 🫡
An image showing a close-up view of the Bodleian Library's reader's declaration form with the grand interior of the library in the background.
January 21, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Bodleian Libraries
stuartackland.bsky.social
It's Penguin Appreciation day today, here's one of the earliest we can find on a map, from John Senex's 'South America corrected from the observations comunicated to the Royal Society’s of London & Paris', 1710. More on the map here blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/maps/2019/02... @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
January 20, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Bodleian Libraries
davidmbarnett.bsky.social
For the Observer I wrote about the forthcoming @bodleian.ox.ac.uk exhibition on our relationship with our pets.

observer.co.uk/culture/art/...
Our pet obsession explored by the man who lived as a fox
Curated by an intrepid academic who has slept in gardens and scavenged from bins, a new exhibition examines our unbreakable bond with domestic animals
observer.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Happy Penguin Day! 🐧

This is Aurora Australis - a book written, illustrated, printed and bound in Antarctica during the winter of 1908.

[1/6]
Cover of the book 'Aurora Australis' by Ernest Shackleton and his expedition team, created in Antarctica, featuring a stylized snowy landscape and the title displayed within an ornate frame, dated 1908-09.
January 20, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Bodleian Libraries
erikasanderson.com
Many thanks to the @bodleian.ox.ac.uk for inviting Helen Davidge and myself to perform scenes from Jane Austen’s Emma today.

We’ll be back in October, performing excerpts from Georgette Heyer!
A glass case exhibit titled “Dancing with Austen”. Inside the case can be seen a pair of Regency ladies dancing slippers, a pale blue Regency dress and a Regency gentleman’s outfit in dark green and blue. In front of the case, Helen Davidge stands as Emma. She has dark hair in curls. She wears a white Regency dress with long white gloves and a necklace with a red jewel. Her arm is linked through with Erika Sanderson’s as Knightley. Erika wears a dark blue Regency tailcoat, with white shirt and cravat, and a green jacquard waistcoat. Her beige trousers are tucked into knee high black and brown riding boots.
January 18, 2026 at 7:59 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Guess the country 👀

From the first printed atlas, and the first copper engraved maps. Of 500 copies printed 26 are known to be still in existence.

Shelfmark: Bodleian Library Auct. K 1.17

Correct answer below 👇

#MedievalMonday
January 19, 2026 at 10:16 AM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Installing a new display at the Weston Library takes time and precision.

Dancing with Jane Austen is now open, featuring rare loans from Jane Austen’s House, including a manuscript music book copied in Jane Austen’s own hand.

A glimpse behind the scenes, before the final case came together.
January 17, 2026 at 9:24 AM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Duke Humfrey’s Library was voted the 4th most beautiful library in the world! 🌍

We are delighted to have received the trophy, recognising this honour from more than 200,000 book lovers worldwide.

Read more: https://www.1000libraries.com/post/2025-top-10-most-beautiful-libraries-in-the-world
The 1000 Libraries award trophy displayed on a wooden table inside Duke Humfrey’s Library, with historic bookcases and the decorated ceiling softly lit in the background. Interior view of Duke Humfrey’s Library, showing dark wooden bookcases filled with historic volumes, long reading tables, and an ornate painted ceiling with carved wooden arches. The 1000 Libraries award trophy positioned centrally in Duke Humfrey’s Library, aligned with the long aisle of bookcases and the richly painted, arched ceiling behind it. A symmetrical view down the central aisle of Duke Humfrey’s Library, with rows of wooden bookcases, reading desks, and a detailed painted ceiling leading towards a large arched window.
January 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Looking up in the Weston Library. 🆙

(You always spot a new detail)
Interiro view of the Weston Library showing various layers of wall and glass windows. The bottom floor houses rows of books on shelves
January 15, 2026 at 5:12 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
COMING SOON: Pets & their People explores why humans keep animals close, and what our evolving relationships with pets may reveal about ourselves.

🗓️ 11 March – 27 September 2026
📍 Weston Library
🎟️ Free admission

Find out more: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/pets-and-their-people
Promotional poster for 'Pets & Their People' exhibition at Weston Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries. Features a close-up illustration of a cat with a ruffled red collar.
January 14, 2026 at 5:36 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
A city steeped in storytelling for centuries!

Join us on Sunday 24 January 1-3pm to explore the city of books on the Literary Oxford Tour!

Book now: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tours/literary-oxford-walking-tour
Architectural detail of an ornate corbel with a gargoyle motif under a building's eave, with Radcliffe Camera, an iconic Oxford landmark, visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
January 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Big Monday energy 😅

#MedievalMonday

Shelfmark: MS. Bodl. 264
Illustration from a medieval manuscript showing a figure in armor operating a large crossbow, with a humorous modern caption "when you've been invited to a meeting that could have been an email." The background includes detailed floral designs.
January 12, 2026 at 1:03 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
A map of the University and city from 1751, much of it still recognisable today! 🗺️

Shelmark: Bodleian Library, Gough Maps Oxfordshire 12
Historical map of Oxford from 1751, featuring detailed illustrations of the city layout with labeled streets and notable landmarks such as colleges. Insets showcase panoramic views and significant architectural structures at Magdalen College.
January 9, 2026 at 3:40 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
A rare first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), annotated by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel, has been jointly acquired by Christ Church, Oxford and the Bodleian Libraries!

Read more: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/about/media/2026/jan/alice-acquisition
A leather-bound edition of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, ith gold embossed details on the cover. 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, opened up to a page showing an illustration of Alice and the Cheshire Cat 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, opened up to a page showing an illustration of Alice surrounded by playing cards 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, opened up to a page showing an illustration of three playing cards under the tree
January 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Experience the Bodleian like never before on this exclusive guided tour this winter!

Gain after-hours access to the stunning Duke Humfrey’s Library after the students have left, allowing you to absorb the incredible atmosphere of the library.

Book now: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tours
Group of visitors looking around in awe inside the wood-panelled Duke Humfrey's library Three individuals are enjoying a guided tour inside a library, surrounded by tall wooden bookshelves filled with books. They appear engaged and happy as they listen to explanations, from an off-camera guide. The interior of the bottom floor of the Radcliffe Camera with an ornate domed ceiling and rows of shelves and desks.
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”

📚 | Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
Snow gently falls on Radcliffe Camera and surrounding historical buildings in Oxford, complementing the serene winter scene with bicycles parked alongside the street and a street lamp in the foreground. Statue of the Earl of Pembroke outside of the Old Bodleian Library. The statue has a sprinkling of snow on the top Snow-covered street in Oxford with the Radcliffe Camera to the left and historical buildings on the right, bicycles parked alongside.
January 6, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Bodleian Libraries
radcliffescilib.bsky.social
The start of the year saw a new series of The Night Manager debut on the BBC. Originally based on his 1993 novel, a reminder that the John le Carré : Tradecraft exhibition continues at the @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library until April 6th 2026

go.glam.ox.ac.uk/yPfczgbcy
Photograph of John le Carré. Head and shoulders shot of him standing in woodland
January 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Jumping into your 2026 reading challenge 📚

Shelfmark: MS. Bodl. 264

#MedievalMonday
Illuminated manuscript page featuring three robed figures all holding books and appear to be reading surrounded by a decorative border, with medieval script above.
January 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday!

Born in 1892, Tolkien paved the way for modern fantasy literature and his creativity continues to inspire the minds of many to this day. ✨

📸 | Tolkien, Bournemouth, July 1965
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien photogr. 7, fol. 75r
(c) Tolkien Trust, 2015
Black and white photograph of J.R.R. Tolkien with a quote overlay: 'Not all those who wander are lost.'
January 3, 2026 at 3:51 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Welcoming the first chapter of 2026! 🗓️

These opening pages from the Bodleian’s collections mark the beginnings of works read and preserved across centuries:

K. Grahame: MS. Eng. misc. e. 247
M. Seacole: MS. Eng. misc. e. 247
J. Austen: Honresfield 18/1
W. Shakespeare: Arch. G c.7
A handwritten manuscropt, titled '1. The River Bank' with black ink. The page is positioned next to a ruler for scale. Open book displaying the first chapter titled "Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands." The page discusses her birth and heritage in Kingston and her experiences and ambitions. A ruler with measurement scales is placed next to the book for scale. Close-up of an open book showing the start of Northanger Abbey's Chapter I, discussing a character named Catherine Morland and her background. The page is slightly yellowed with age. A color scale and ruler are also visible on the right for scale reference. Image of the first page of "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, featuring ornate header typography and visible text of the play, with a ruler for scale placed beside the page.
January 1, 2026 at 12:44 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Aged 11, Princess Elizabeth made New Year’s gift for her stepmother, Queen Katherine Parr. 🎁

Bound in embroidered blue silk, it has been preserved at the Bodleian since 1729: https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/a3a60c14-8a31-42b9-b8e7-a0986e276459/

Shelfmark: Bodleian Library MS. Cherry 36
An image of an ornate book cover featuring elaborate gold and silver embroidery. In the middle of the book, the initials K.P. have been sewn in. The text overlay reads 'A very special New Year's gift from 1544/5.' Handwritten page by Princess Elizabeth I, featuring elegant script on aged parchment, with a ruler for scale on the right side. The text overlay reads 'Written by Princess Elizabeth, aged 11, for her stepmother, Queen Katherine Parr' A handwritten page from "Le Miroir de l'ame pécheresse," an early 16th-century French devotional poem, attributed to Marguerite de Navarre. The document is aged, with visible fold marks and slight discoloration. There's a circular seal at the bottom right corner of the page. The back cover featuring the same ornate blue silk and gold embroidery. The text overlay reads 'Bound in blue silk, embroidered with silver and gold, possibly stitched by Elizabeth herself. Now preserved at the Bodleian Libraries after entering the collection in 1729'
December 31, 2025 at 7:09 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Watched Shōgun over Christmas? 📺

In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu became shōgun and issued a shuinjō after advice from navigator William Adams. The original document is now on display in Treasured.

https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/70d882bc-a8d6-4741-adbb-8621ed0a73d6/

Shelfmark: MS. Jap. b.2
December 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Looking up in the Radcliffe Camera. 🆙

(This view never gets old)
Interior view of the dome of the Radcliffe Camera, featuring intricate architectural details and natural light filtering through windows.
December 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
This is the @radcliffescilib.bsky.social's Worry Box.

Students are invited to write down a worry and post it anonymously. The worries are then shredded and sent to the Botanic Gardens, where it is used as fertiliser.

A simple way to acknowledge stress and transform it into something positive. 🪴
A red postbox with 'Worry Box' written on the top. A student stredding a piece of paper Shredded paper scattered on soil, partially mixed with grasses and moss Person smiling and holding two small potted plants, standing in a room with a floral wall poster.
December 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Christmas music, dressed for the season 🎄

These beautifully illustrated sheet-music covers show how Christmas music was shared (and sold) in print. 🎶

1. Mus. 400 b.28 (50)
2. Mus. 400 b.30 (36)
3. Mus. 400 b.50 (21)
4. Mus. 400 b.11 (13)
Cover of the sheet music 'Around The Christmas Tree Quadrille' by H. Van Landeghem, featuring an illustration of a decorated Christmas tree surrounded by small figures, published in London by Simpson & Co. Cover of 'Christmas Time with Lancers to Old English Tunes by W.C. Levey', featuring an illustration of a person in a red outfit standing by a snowy gate within a decorative wreath that includes holly and a rural snowy landscape in the background. Vintage 'A Merry Christmas Polka by W. Smallwood' sheet music cover, featuring an illustration of a robin perched on a holly branch with red berries and green leaves, set against a neutral background. Antique sheet music cover titled 'The Christmas Tree or Merry Bells Polka' by C.A. Cramer, featuring an illustration of a decorated Christmas tree surrounded by flags and a winter scene at the bottom, published by Davidson's Musical Treasury at St. Peter's Hill, Doctors' Commons.
December 26, 2025 at 11:34 AM