Archive: 2013

1. Beware the Basilisk

   One of our volunteers brought these two volumes to our attention recently, having removed them from the shelves for conservation work and discovered that they had been rather extensively eaten....

   8th November 2013 • Read more

2. The Political Apple Pie

   We recently acquired from the bookseller Christopher Edwards a collection of fifteen pamphlets, mainly the work of William Hone, published between 1817-1821. The Library already holds examples of a number...

   7th November 2013 • Read more

3. Captain Peacock

   Visitors to our gents’ loo this afternoon might have been surprised to find it already occupied by this beautiful chap who we have rather inevitably nicknamed Captain Peacock. After following...

   6th November 2013 • Read more

4. November

   Here’s a calendar for the new month from a Dutch Book of Hours, which isn’t the most sparkling manuscript in the collection, but is an attractive work nonetheless, with some...

   1st November 2013 • Read more

5. A head in the dandelions

   This account of the Manchester medic Daniel John Leech was found by one of our volunteers Paul Carpenter in a box from the Leech collection. It was taken from Ernest...

   31st October 2013 • Read more

6. The Edward Watkin Collection

     You may remember our recent post on forgotten Mancunian Sir Edward Watkin, and the sterling work undertaken on the collection by our volunteer Catriona. These images are from Watkin’s...

   17th October 2013 • Read more

7. Welcome to Michael Wood!

   A warm welcome to Michael Wood, our newest Honorary Patron. He joins Dame Joan Bakewell and artist Jeremy Deller, and don’t forget that you can join in too! Anyone can...

   16th October 2013 • Read more

8. A bias for binding

     Gorgeous medieval bindings from the John Byrom collection featured on the 101 Treasures page today including this beautiful example of work by the ‘Virgin and Child binder’. Read more...

   3rd October 2013 • Read more

9. Public history at a public library…

   It’s been a pleasure to welcome historian Michael Wood to the Library this week, along with several groups of first-year History students from the University of Manchester. Michael has recently...

   2nd October 2013 • Read more

10. Over to Olivia…

    We have a guest post for you this morning from Olivia Hill, who is currently doing work experience here at the Library. We are all enjoying having her here, and...

    2nd October 2013 • Read more