Dr Liam Sims
@liamsims.bsky.social
Rare Books Specialist @theul.bsky.social |
Hon. Secretary @bibsoc.bsky.social | Fellow @antiquaries.bsky.social | Venetophile | Bellringer | PhD on antiquarian networks in 18thC Lincolnshire (thesis linked in pinned post) 🌈
Hon. Secretary @bibsoc.bsky.social | Fellow @antiquaries.bsky.social | Venetophile | Bellringer | PhD on antiquarian networks in 18thC Lincolnshire (thesis linked in pinned post) 🌈
Woodcut of the raising of Lazarus, from ‘The myrrour of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryste’, an English translation of Bonaventure’s ‘Meditationes Vitæ Christi’. Printed at London by Richard Pynson in 1494. Came to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1715 and now Inc.4.J.3.6[3622].
February 4, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Woodcut of the raising of Lazarus, from ‘The myrrour of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryste’, an English translation of Bonaventure’s ‘Meditationes Vitæ Christi’. Printed at London by Richard Pynson in 1494. Came to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1715 and now Inc.4.J.3.6[3622].
The cover of Allen Seaby’s illustrated children’s book on the Alfred Jewel (London, 1947). @theulspeccoll.bsky.social 1948.7.1411.
February 2, 2026 at 1:37 PM
The cover of Allen Seaby’s illustrated children’s book on the Alfred Jewel (London, 1947). @theulspeccoll.bsky.social 1948.7.1411.
A hand-coloured woodcut of Salomon & Marcolf, from the popular Latin jest book recording their dialogues. Printed at Leipzig after 1488 & bought from @quaritch1847.bsky.social by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1891. Now Inc.5.A.27.2[1067].
February 1, 2026 at 9:50 AM
A hand-coloured woodcut of Salomon & Marcolf, from the popular Latin jest book recording their dialogues. Printed at Leipzig after 1488 & bought from @quaritch1847.bsky.social by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1891. Now Inc.5.A.27.2[1067].
Pre-Raphaelite bookplate of the novelist Maurice Hewlett (1861-1923). He married Hilda Herbert in 1888 but they separated in 1914 ‘partly due to Hilda’s increasing interest in aviation’ (she was the first woman to gain a UK pilot’s license). @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.5.A.4.32[751].
January 31, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Pre-Raphaelite bookplate of the novelist Maurice Hewlett (1861-1923). He married Hilda Herbert in 1888 but they separated in 1914 ‘partly due to Hilda’s increasing interest in aviation’ (she was the first woman to gain a UK pilot’s license). @theulspeccoll.bsky.social Inc.5.A.4.32[751].
Lush dinner yesterday with @aglmasters.bsky.social: pan fried haddock over braised broad beans, peas & pancetta. From a marvellous new acquisition: ‘The Frozen Peas Cookbook’.
January 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Lush dinner yesterday with @aglmasters.bsky.social: pan fried haddock over braised broad beans, peas & pancetta. From a marvellous new acquisition: ‘The Frozen Peas Cookbook’.
His late Majesty, executed on this day in 1649. From my copy of his purported spiritual autobiography, Eikon Basilike, printed in London in that same year.
January 30, 2026 at 9:12 PM
His late Majesty, executed on this day in 1649. From my copy of his purported spiritual autobiography, Eikon Basilike, printed in London in that same year.
‘The executioner, at one blow, severed his head from his body’. On this day in 1649. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social SSS.30.17.
January 30, 2026 at 2:14 PM
‘The executioner, at one blow, severed his head from his body’. On this day in 1649. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social SSS.30.17.
Gorgeous manicule in this manuscript collection of works by Italian Humanist writers, including Bartolomeo Facio & Giannantonio de’Pandoni (known as Porcellius), written in Italy c. 1450-1500. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Stephen Gaselee in 1919 & now MS Add. 6188.
January 29, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Gorgeous manicule in this manuscript collection of works by Italian Humanist writers, including Bartolomeo Facio & Giannantonio de’Pandoni (known as Porcellius), written in Italy c. 1450-1500. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Stephen Gaselee in 1919 & now MS Add. 6188.
Hand-coloured woodcut of a lover of truth (Philalethes) in discussion with Veritas, goddess of truth. From the Philalethes of Maffeo Vegio (1407-58), who studied at the University of Pavia. Printed at Nuremberg c. 1474-75, bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1917 & now Inc.5.A.7.5[927].
January 28, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Hand-coloured woodcut of a lover of truth (Philalethes) in discussion with Veritas, goddess of truth. From the Philalethes of Maffeo Vegio (1407-58), who studied at the University of Pavia. Printed at Nuremberg c. 1474-75, bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1917 & now Inc.5.A.7.5[927].
Simon MacCorkindale in I, Claudius, is gorgeous 🔥
January 27, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Simon MacCorkindale in I, Claudius, is gorgeous 🔥
Everyone here looks rather bored. A woodcut of a master with two pupils, from an edition of Aesop’s fables printed at Hagenau (Germany) in 1494. In the library of the Jesuit College at Regensburg c. 1700 & bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1891. Inc.5.A.39.1[1098].
January 26, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Everyone here looks rather bored. A woodcut of a master with two pupils, from an edition of Aesop’s fables printed at Hagenau (Germany) in 1494. In the library of the Jesuit College at Regensburg c. 1700 & bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1891. Inc.5.A.39.1[1098].
Watching I, Claudius, for the first time. With @aglmasters.bsky.social.
January 25, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Watching I, Claudius, for the first time. With @aglmasters.bsky.social.
Hand-coloured woodcut of a saint (presumably St Anselm), in an extract from his Proslogion, in which he juxtaposes contrasting attributes of God to resolve theological contradictions. Printed in Paris c. 1482-83. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1870 & now item 1 in Inc.5.D.1.12[2434].
January 25, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Hand-coloured woodcut of a saint (presumably St Anselm), in an extract from his Proslogion, in which he juxtaposes contrasting attributes of God to resolve theological contradictions. Printed in Paris c. 1482-83. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1870 & now item 1 in Inc.5.D.1.12[2434].
Saturday (re-)reading. Signed too!
January 24, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Saturday (re-)reading. Signed too!
In a little under 5 years I have travelled more than 30,000km on UK trains (this doesn’t include frequent trips to London which aren’t usually bought through Trainline.com). This is about 3/4 of the circumference of the earth 😮
January 24, 2026 at 10:47 AM
In a little under 5 years I have travelled more than 30,000km on UK trains (this doesn’t include frequent trips to London which aren’t usually bought through Trainline.com). This is about 3/4 of the circumference of the earth 😮
A woodcut of a priest celebrating mass in a liturgical work printed at Erfurt in 1494: the wine spilling from the communion cup & a rat nibbling at the host. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Stephen Gaselee in 1934 & now Inc.5.A.29.3[3902].
January 24, 2026 at 9:16 AM
A woodcut of a priest celebrating mass in a liturgical work printed at Erfurt in 1494: the wine spilling from the communion cup & a rat nibbling at the host. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social by Stephen Gaselee in 1934 & now Inc.5.A.29.3[3902].
A stunning architectural binding, executed in Italy in the seventeenth century. On Gaspare Visconti’s ‘De Paulo e Daria amanti’ (printed at Milan in 1495), a poem centred on the false death of a lover, not unlike Romeo & Juliet. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1966 & now Inc.5.B.7.23[4467].
January 23, 2026 at 4:02 PM
A stunning architectural binding, executed in Italy in the seventeenth century. On Gaspare Visconti’s ‘De Paulo e Daria amanti’ (printed at Milan in 1495), a poem centred on the false death of a lover, not unlike Romeo & Juliet. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1966 & now Inc.5.B.7.23[4467].
One benefit of having the afternoon off.
January 23, 2026 at 2:32 PM
One benefit of having the afternoon off.
Great cover for Charles Minder’s ‘This Man’s War’ (New York, 1931), consisting of letters written home by the author between April and October 1918. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social 1931.7.1605.
January 23, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Great cover for Charles Minder’s ‘This Man’s War’ (New York, 1931), consisting of letters written home by the author between April and October 1918. @theulspeccoll.bsky.social 1931.7.1605.
Chunky books in this bookish bookplate for Charles Meek (1885-1965). Etching & engraving by Jean Émile Laboureur, c. 1923. In a copy of Savonarola’s ‘Compendio di revelatione’ (Florence, 1495), given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1930. Inc.5.B.8.8[3670].
January 22, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Chunky books in this bookish bookplate for Charles Meek (1885-1965). Etching & engraving by Jean Émile Laboureur, c. 1923. In a copy of Savonarola’s ‘Compendio di revelatione’ (Florence, 1495), given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1930. Inc.5.B.8.8[3670].
Bubbly shepherds pie with leftover lamb shank. Mostly crafted by @aglmasters.bsky.social 🤤
January 21, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Bubbly shepherds pie with leftover lamb shank. Mostly crafted by @aglmasters.bsky.social 🤤
This Jesus is disconcertingly ripped. Woodcut from Savonarola’s ‘Trattato dell’umiltà’, on humility, printed at Florence before September 1495. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1920 & now Inc.5.B.8.8[1986].
January 21, 2026 at 2:34 PM
This Jesus is disconcertingly ripped. Woodcut from Savonarola’s ‘Trattato dell’umiltà’, on humility, printed at Florence before September 1495. Given to @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1920 & now Inc.5.B.8.8[1986].
Death. From a Dutch edition of the ‘Cordiale quattuor novissimorum’ (Haarlem, 1484) on death and the final journey of the soul, ascribed to Dionysius Carthusiensis and Gerardus de Vliederhoven. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1869 & now Inc.5.E.11.1[3124].
January 20, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Death. From a Dutch edition of the ‘Cordiale quattuor novissimorum’ (Haarlem, 1484) on death and the final journey of the soul, ascribed to Dionysius Carthusiensis and Gerardus de Vliederhoven. Bought by @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1869 & now Inc.5.E.11.1[3124].