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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 2d

To create the marbled effect, paints would be floated on a liquid, where they could be manipulated to form different shapes. Paper would then be laid on top, so that the design would be transferred.

The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 2d

Although marbling had existed in other parts of the world for centuries, the use of marbled paper became popular in European bookbinding in the seventeenth century.

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 2d

Just look at the vibrant colours of these marbled endpapers!

They can be found in our copy of ‘Cartas erudítas, y curiosas’ by Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1777).

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 5d

Lovely to see this! Edward Parfitt was also the Librarian at the DEI.

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 6d

You can also make a research appointment to view it by emailing [email protected]

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 6d

Calling all university students!

How about this seventeenth century medical recipe book as #DissertationInspiration?

See this recipe book and a number of other fascinating archives in person at our Dissertation Inspiration Drop In on Friday 24th October, 2-4pm.

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 7d

Read the full blog on our website: devonandexeterinstitution.org/people-talki...

PEOPLE TALKING: Exeter oral history 1975-1979 - The Devon and Exeter Institution

This blog was researched and written by Jenny Lloyd. “We had a joint of meat every day. But the family next door … they were really poor. The children sat […]

devonandexeterinstitution.org

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 7d

One of the voices preserved in People Talking (1975-9), a collection of working people’s memories of Exeter up to 1945. In October’s blog, Jenny Lloyd reflects on the project, which features in the Exeter events for the Festival of #DevonInThe1920s, running 9-18 October.
#exeterhistory #oralhistory

“We had a joint of meat every day. But the family next door … they were really poor. The children sat round the table with an empty plate and tapped the plates to make out they were eating.”

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 12d

Calling all university students!

Are you looking for some #DissertationInspiration?

Join us for a drop in session to view original primary sources, perfect to give you ideas for your historical research.

Free and open to all.

Poster for a Dissertation Inspiration drop in at the Devon and Exeter Institution on Friday 24th October from 2pm to 4pm

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 15d

Members' Magazine Auction

Did you know that as a member of the Devon and Exeter Institution, you can bid for a year's worth of back issues of your favourite magazine?

Bidding for this year's auction closes on Tuesday 30th September.

devonandexeterinstitution.org/members-maga...

Members' Magazine Auction 2025 - The Devon and Exeter Institution

devonandexeterinstitution.org

The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · 22d

This morning we kicked off our Heritage Open Days with a Librarian's Tour. If you missed out, we have another Librarian's Tour on Thursday at 2pm.

Visit our website to see full listings of all the exciting events taking place this week: devonandexeterinstitution.org/heritage-ope...

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Aug 31

The story of Margot appeared in Joseph Strutts’ ‘The sports and pastimes of the people of England’, (1876).

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Aug 31

Inspired by the Women’s Rugby World Cup, we searched our historic book collections for stories of women in sport, and that’s where we came across ‘a damsel named Margot, who resided at Paris in 1424, and played at hand-tennis with the palm, and also with the back of her hand, better than any man’.

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Reposted by The Devon and Exeter Institution

Amber Flood (Ní Mhaoltuile) @amberflood.bsky.social · Aug 12

Came across an obscure local satire serial that the @dexinst.bsky.social was subscribed to for a few years in the 1880s. Some of the members were not pleased about its presence in the reading room!

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Aug 27

Our second-hand book sale is taking place this Saturday! We’ve had some amazing donations and this promises to be our biggest book sale yet.

As well as fantastic modern fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, there will be loads of books about:

- Art
- War
- Cinema
- Local history

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Aug 13

#OnThisDay in 1521, Tenochtitlan fell and the Aztec empire ended. ‘The History of Mexico’ (1807) illustrates the Greater Temple, which was destroyed by the Spanish. Some scholars suggest 13th August 3114 BC as the start date for the Mayan Calendar – though the 11th is more widely agreed upon.
#OTD

The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Aug 5

Who's this serious fellow? Well, it's the First Earl of Clarendon of course!

In July, Thomas Gray joined us from The King's School in Ottery St. Mary for work experience, and studied Clarendon's history of the English Civil War.

Read Thomas' blog here: devonandexeterinstitution.org/clarendons-a...

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 25

Join us on Saturday 30th August, 11am-3pm, for a second-hand book sale, taking place in our beautiful Georgian library.

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 22

Visit our 'Collections highlights' book display to see this book of plates, and other treasures from our collections. On display until Friday 29th August. Free and open to all.

The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 22

These words are taken from George Adam's 'Essays on the microscope' (1787), which were accompanied by a wonderful volume of plates. This particular illustration shows the lucernal microscope, invented by Adams, which projected an image onto a screen using an oil lamp as a light source.

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 22

"The microscope extends the boundaries of the organs of vision, enables us to examine the structure of plants and animals; presents to the eye myriads of beings, of whose existence we had before formed no idea".

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 11

We are accepting abstracts for our annual lecture series on subjects interacting with the theme of "A New Leaf" 🍃📚
The deadline for submissions is Monday 25th August. Please see the full call for papers on our website: devonandexeterinstitution.org/whats-on/tal...

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 11

Over the last fortnight, we've been very pleased to host Eloise Bennett-Voci and Charlotte Lovell as interns from the University of Exeter's Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage programme.

Read their blog here:

devonandexeterinstitution.org/archives-of-...

Archives of the month: discoveries from the Manuscripts Cupboard - The Devon and Exeter Institution

In this blog, we hear from Charlotte Lovell and Eloise Bennett-Voci, who joined us at the Devon and Exeter Institution on a two-week internship, as part of the University of […]

devonandexeterinstitution.org

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The Devon and Exeter Institution @dexinst.bsky.social · Jul 10

Earlier this week, our Director Emma attended an event at the Houses of Parliament as part of a delegation of culural ambassadors from #Exeter.
We were welcomed by Jayne Kirkham MP and Steve Race MP for the launch of the Great South West Creative Industries Report greatsouthwest.co.uk/insights/

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Reposted by The Devon and Exeter Institution

Tom Staniford @tomstaniford.bsky.social · Jun 27

And finally finally (apols), it was an honour to welcome a new bench to the @dexinst.bsky.social courtyard garden- the first thing bought with #GoodbyeLegsRide donations. Wonderful to share this moment w Emma, DExInst Director, and Anna ExCoL Director. Proper post on that in a few days!

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