Magdalene Library News
Library News
The Historic Libraries go Dutch
The Pepys Library’s rare Dutch publications have been added to the STCN, a retrospective bibliography, enhancing scholars' access to these 17th-century items linked to Pepys's interests.
Peckard Library Reconstruction
The digital handlist of Peter Peckard’s 1798 bequest to Magdalene College’s Old Library offers insights into his library’s content, organization, and the circulation of books for further research.
Slavonic Book of Psalms
Magdalene College Old Library holds a rare 1595 Slavonic Psalms book, likely acquired via Thomas Nevile, with a connection to Mark Ridley, an English physician in Russia. Catalogued for research.
Pepys’s Tidal Almanac
The smallest book in the Pepys Library is a 1546 tidal almanac by Guillaume Brouscon. It includes tide tables, maps, and symbols for saints, and may have once belonged to Sir Francis Drake.
A Shakespeare Signature? Part 2
This week’s continuation examines the signature in the Hystory writtone by Thucidides. While likely not an Ireland forgery, it’s uncertain whether it’s Shakespeare’s genuine signature.
A Shakespeare Signature? Part 1
An intriguing signature in the Old Library’s copy of Thucydides’ Hystory writtone by Thucidides raises questions about its authenticity as Shakespeare's, leading to an analysis of the evidence.
Eric Crudgington Fernihough
Eric Fernihough, a Magdalene College alumnus, was a passionate motorcyclist who almost claimed the world speed record before his tragic death in 1938. His story remains commemorated each year in Hungary.
Lady Damaris Masham
This International Women’s Day, we highlight Lady Damaris Masham, philosopher and theologian, who advocated for women’s education and critiqued moral theories alongside thinkers like John Locke.
IWD Feminist Books
Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrate with inspiring feminist reads now available at Magdalene College Library, covering topics like gender, sexuality, and intersectionality.
Christine de Pisan
Dr M E J Hughes explores Samuel Pepys's binding of Christine de Pisan’s Feats of Arms and Vegetius’s De re militari, showcasing Pepys's thoughtful approach to bookbinding and text arrangement.
The Quincentenary of Magdalene College Hall
The Hall at Magdalene College has evolved over 500 years, from its construction in 1519 to its modern form, with changes to its structure, decoration, and brewing practices. The Hall remains a vibrant gathering place.
Chaucerian Incunabula
This week's blog post discusses the significance of the Caxton volume of the Canterbury Tales in the Pepys library, its historical context, and updates from recent scholarly work on its second edition.