Back a Book

The historic libraries at Magdalene College have aided scholarship and provided public enjoyment for centuries.

Through careful monitoring and professional conservation of the books, manuscripts and prints in the Pepys Library and the Old Library, we can ensure that these items are studied and exhibited for years to come.

You can be part of this preservation of history by backing a book and supporting an item in our historic collections which needs professional conservation. On this page, we have selected items that need repair and the cost of sponsorship.

Three legal documents relating to Pepys’s ancestors (Pepys Reference Collection)

Cost to conserve: £480.00

These three parchment documents were donated to the College in 2003 by a descendent of George Digby Pepys (1868-1957). The documents arrived at the College squeezed into a small metal tin, and due to ther condition, it has not been possible to study them beyond knowing that they relate to George Digby Pepys and Samuel Pepys’s common ancestors in the sixteenth century. George Digby Pepys was a direct descendent of Samuel Pepys’s great uncle, John Pepys, who died in 1604. With conservation, it will be possible to study these documents safely and in greater detail.

Conservation work required

Work required to flatten, clean, consolidate and re-house the documents in archival boxes.

Cost to conserve: £480.00

Two Chinese shoes from the IA Richards Collection (Old Library)

Cost to conserve: £240.00

These late 19th to early 20th century Chinese shoes are part of the IA Richards Collection. IA Richards (1893-1979) was one of the most important scholars produced by Magdalene College in the twentieth century. He spent some of his career teaching English and poetry at Tsinghua University in Beijing, during which time he acquired several artefacts which form part of the collection in the Old Library, including these small shoes – likely produced for women with bound feet. The shoes feature embroidered decorations of flowers, floral motifs and insects with silk thread on silk textiles.

Conservation work required

Gentle surface clean of the shoes, housing in bespoke boxes.

Cost to conserve: £240.00

PL 1281: “The dīvān of Anvarī”, 17th Century (Pepys Library)

Cost to conserve: £160.00

This is one of the most intriguing manuscripts in Pepys’ collection. The binding is decorated with a central ‘mandorla’ and detached pendants containing relief floral motifs, with an envelope flap – a typical feature of Islamic bookbindings. Inside the volume is Pepys’ portrait bookplate, with the inscription “Diwân i Anwarèe, i.e. Collectio Poematum ab Anwaree Poetâ Persico scr[ipta]”. It is the dīvān, or collected poetry, of the great medieval Persian poet Anvarī (active 1150 AD). Pepys did not know Persian, but we can infer from his catalogue description of the manuscript as “Character – Samples of ye Persian”, that Pepys was concerned with the manuscript as an example of Perso-Arabic script letterforms.

Conservation work required

A bespoke box to be made in which to keep the book, due to the metal clasps on its binding.

PL 1554: “Horologion Slavonice”, 16th century (Pepys Library)

Cost to conserve: £200.00

This manuscript is a rare sixteenth-century example of a Slavonic book – the only one in Pepys’ collection.

It has a Greek-style binding, with raised headcaps, wooden boards and red leather. The text is a Horologion of the Greek rite in Slavonic and the title page is highly decorative.

This is another example of Pepys’s interest in letterforms.

Conservation work required

A bespoke box to be made in which to keep the book, due to the metal clasps on its binding.

PL 1760: “Chansonnier”, early 16th century (Pepys Library)

Cost to conserve: £200.00

This illuminated music manuscript was copied in France and can be associated with the French royal court, due to the frequent use of the heraldic ermine tail of Brittany, suggesting Anne of Brittany (d. 1514), as recipient or giver. It features 57 pieces from 16 composers.

The beautiful binding dates from the seventeenth century and features blue-green cloth on boards with gold thread and a red leather spine with the inscription “K. Hen. 7 / Mvsick.”. The first few folios of the manuscript are illuminated with floral borders and painted initials.

Prior to 1697, the manuscript also included a miniature of a Prince of Wales in the time of King Henry VII (possibly Prince Arthur (d. 1502), but more likely to be Henry (Henry VIII from 1508).

Conservation work required

A bespoke box to be made in which to keep the book, due to the contemporary cloth on its binding.

PL 2365: “The Workes…Newly Printed”, by Geoffrey Chaucer, 1602 (Pepys Library)

Cost to conserve: £280.00

This hefty book contains the works of the celebrated English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer.

It features handwritten notes at the end of the volume by one of Pepys’ clerks, giving additions to the conclusions of the Cook’s and Squire’s Canterbury Tales.

Conservation work required

A bespoke box to be made in which to keep the book, due to the metal clasps on its binding.

‘Les Méditations Métaphysiques’, by René Descartes, 1681 (Old Library)

Cost to conserve: £760.00

This book was owned previously by Mary Astell (1666-1731) and forms part of the recent identification of her library within the Old Library of the College. 

The attribution to Astell of the annotations in many of the Old Library books has led to a surge of scholarly interest, which in turn requires the most fragile volumes to be conserved to enable future academic study.

On the title page of Les Méditations Métaphysiques shown above, Astell discusses the various editions of the work and its translators.

Conservation work required

Urgent remedial work was completed on this book in 2023-2024, and further work to stabilise individual papers with Japanese tissue is required.

Works of Walter Hilton, 15th Century (Old Library)

Cost to conserve: £1400.00

This medieval manuscript contains religious writings by Walter Hilton (c.1343-1396).

Hilton was best known for his work known as ‘The Scale of Perfection’, a version of which is present in this manuscript.  The first part of the work, is aimed at an anchoress (a female recluse). It provides guidance on meditation, prayer, humility, and overcoming sin.

Conservation work required

Surface cleaning, reinforcing sewing supports, applying new spine linings, new structural endbands, improvements to the general structure of the manuscript.

If you would like to back a book, please complete the online donation form.
 

Back a Book Donation Form

For those who support the conservation of an item in full, we will recognise your generous contribution in the following ways:

• a 'Conservation Report' outlining the work undertaken on the item, with 'before and after' photos for personal study
• acknowledgement in the online catalogue record of the book, if applicable (currently printed books only)
• an acknowledgement in the Pepys Library section of the college website and the 'Friends of the Pepys Library' Newsletter

The 'lead time' for the conservation may vary, especially in the unlikely event of an emergency repair arising. However, we will keep in contact with you regarding the estimated timescale.

We are grateful to the following donors whose generous support has helped conserve Magdalene’s historic book collection by backing the restoration of individual volumes.

Mrs Louise Formby-Tiedman and Prof Craig Tiedman
‘Letter to Mr. Dodwell’ by John Norris, Old Library
Joint repair and surface cleaning.

Mr Ridley Burnett (1963)
'Declarationes Des' by Erasmus, Old Library.
Reattachment of upper board.

Mr Robert Chartener (2014)
'Civitas Londinum’, Pepys Library.
Rehousing in a suitable archival box.

'Audley Grant of Arms', College Archives.
Rehousing in a suitable archival box.

'Order Book', College Archives.
The commissioning of a new order book.

Dr Peter Cunich (1987)
The 'Peterborough Antiphoner', Old Library.
A 'book shoe' to support the manuscript on the shelf.

The Rt Hon Lord Judge (1959)
'Brown's self-interpreting family Bible', Old Library.
Replacement of spine lining and upper board reattachment.

Mr Timothy D Llewellyn OBE (1966)
The 'Book of Ovyde' by the Caxton Master, Old Library
Minor tear repairs.

'Chaucerian Pieces', Pepys Library
Reattach end band.

Facsimile of a map of London by Wenceslaus Hollar, Pepys Library
Line with cotton and colour match to recreate the features of the original map

'London and Westminster' albums, Pepys Library
Construction of four-flap folders for album boxes.

'Magdalene Part Books', Old Library
Construction of drop spine boxes, surface cleaning; reshape boards and repair of outer jointof volume 2.

Mrs Deborah Regal
'Cosmographie' by Peter Heylyn, Old Library
Reattach upper board and construction of a 'book shoe'.

Mr Paul Stallebrass (1987)
‘Medical Treatises and Receipts’, Pepys Library
Strengthening and repairing of spine leather.

'Great Brittans little calendar: or, Triple diarie' by Samuel Garey, London, 1618, Old Library
Cleaning, paper repairs, a new spine lining, and lacing of the supports with the original cover.

'Feats of Arms and Chivalry' by Christine de Pisan, Pepys Library
Surface cleaning, page flattening and repair, reattachment of headband, reinforcement of spine.

Dr Alistair Thomas (1995)
'Nuove inventioni di balli', Pepys Library
Reattachment of tailband, surface cleaning, spine reinforcement.

Back a Book is run in parallel with our Friends of the Pepys Library and Historic Collections. You do not need to be a member to back a book.

If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Pepys to keep up to date with news from the historic libraries please visit the Friends of the Pepys webpage or contact the Coordinator of the Friends Library at pepysfriends@magd.cam.ac.uk.