King of Books, Book of Kings. Early Printed English Bibles from the Carothers...
Article by William Modrow, Rare Books & Manuscripts Librarian What Bibles did English people read in the time of Shakespeare, Spenser, or Milton? Why did they view the events of the Reformation or...
View ArticleDickens 1812-2012: Dr. Paul Fyfe Lecture 2/15
Charles Dickens is one of the most important writers in English Literary History. In celebration of his bicentenary in February 2012, Florida State University’s Department of English, in collaboration...
View ArticleDickens 1812-2012: Dr. John Fenstermaker Lecture 2/29
Charles Dickens is one of the most important writers in English Literary History. Our celebration of his bicentenary in February 2012, presented in collaboration with the FSU English Department,...
View ArticleA Place of Pilgrimage
While assisting with Special Collections & Archives instruction classes as part of my graduate assistantship, I have found the following quote from Michael Suarez, director of the Rare Book School,...
View ArticleDefining (and Challenging) the Book
How do you define “the book”? What functions do books serve? What are the essential qualities of a book? How have these characteristics changed over time? Those are a sample of the questions raised...
View ArticleJudging Books by Their Covers
When it comes to studying the history of the book, the study of bookbinding presents a unique set of challenges to scholars. While today we might be tempted think of a book as an all-in-one package,...
View ArticleA Book About All the Things
The Liber de proprietatibus rerum Bartholomei angelici (On the Properties of Things) is a medieval encyclopedia that was written by the 13th century Franciscan scholar Bartholomeus Anglicus, who sought...
View ArticleWho Wore It Best: A Renaissance Costume Party
While it might be a little late for you all to change your Halloween costume plans, the following woodcut illustrations from Habiti Antichi, et Moderni di Tutto il Mondo (1598) could still provide some...
View ArticleEditions for the Millions: Early American Paperbacks
FSU Special Collections & Archives recently added 33 late-nineteenth century American paperbacks to our rare book collections. These include such famous titles as Great Expectations and Our Mutual...
View ArticleThe Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Charles Dicken’s first novel, was published in installments by Chapman and Hall from March 1836 to November 1837. There were 20 parts issued in 19 volumes...
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