University of Exeter Special Collections

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Join us in exploring the University of Exeter Library's Special Collections, which include archives, manuscripts, rare books and maps.

There's something for everyone, and everyone is welcome.

Find out more! ➡️ libguides.exeter.ac.uk/archives

@fxuniarchives.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 11:23 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

You can find the Tristan and Yseult scripts, and much more, in our #KneehighTheatre Archive. Find out more: www.falmouth.ac.uk/library/arch...

📷: AC2015-001 Box 3 – Tristan and Yseult script, Kneehigh Theatre Archive, Falmouth University © Kneehigh Theatre

#TheatreHistory #TheatreArchives

@fxuniarchives.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 11:23 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

The story of #TristanAndYseult starts in 2003, when it was co-commissioned for performances at Restormel Castle and Rufford Abbey.

Director Emma Rice got Anna Maria Murphy and Carl Grose to write contrasting narrative voices, blending courtly restraint with the lovers' emotional perspectives.

Photograph of the first page of the script for Tristan and Yseult.

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 11:07 AM

Did you know our archives contain thousands of letters, just waiting to be read? 💌

Why not get started now by visiting our online PenPals exhibit, which explores correspondence between South-West writers!

➡️ specialcollectionsarchive.exeter.ac.uk/exhibits/sho...

#WorldPostDay #PostDay #Archives

Cropped image from an exhibition board relating to Charles Causley. It shows a black and white photograph of Causley as a young man sitting at a writing desk, with a siamese cat sitting on top of the desk. The photograph has been fashioned into a stamp. Above the photograph is typed: 'EUL MS 50a/PERS/2/2/2/10 Photographer: R.L. Knight Ltd'. And below the photograph is typed 'Causley at his writing desk with pet cat'.

@kresenkernow.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 11:02 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

🥚 Happy World Egg Day! This egg and spoon race at Liskeard Young Farmers sports was photographed by George Ellis and featured in the Cornish Guardian on 27 June 1940. The original glass plate negative was badly damaged, but careful digital restoration brought it back to life. 📷🥚

@exeterunilib.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 10:03 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

This #BlackHistoryMonth, explore our digital & print collections celebrating Black history, culture, voices & experiences. Find reading lists, eBooks, databases, films & more via our #BHM LibGuide and displays at the entrances to Forum & St Luke's libraries. libguides.exeter.ac.uk/BHM

A light and dark green-striped background with a screenshot of the Black History Month resources page, and 'Celebrate Black History Month 2026 with the Library' and a link to the Black History Month LibGuide in white text.

@nmbluk.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 8:30 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Continuing with the cephalopod love it's #NautilusNight

To shell-ebrate we have this beautiful illustration of the shell of the chambered nautilus, taken from the 18th Century book on shells by GW Knorr

Two colored scientific illustrations of nautilus shells in cross-section, showing spiral chambers and handwritten labels.

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 8:45 AM

Check out this beautiful octopus from our friends at @nmbluk.bsky.social for #WorldOctopusDay! 😍

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 8:44 AM

Good morning to everyone but especially to all the octopuses, for today is their special day!

To celebrate World Octopus Day, here's an illustration of an octopus from the book 'The World of the Sea' by Moquin Tandon, published in 1869.

📷 Reserve 591.92 TAN

#WorldOctopusDay #OctopusDay #RareBooks

Cropped image showing an engraving of an octopus

Full-page engraving from a book. It shows an octopus lying on the seabed, with a squid and a cuttlefish coming towards. The cuttlefish is making a cloud. The engraving is captioned: 'Plate XI. A Poulpe. A Cuttle-Fish Making His Cloud. A Calmar'.

@literatureworks.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 1:58 PMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

📢 The Exeter Young City Laureate for 2026-27 is Emily Reynolds.

literatureworks.org.uk/announcing-e...

@nmbluk.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 8:30 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Happy #WorldOctopusDay to all our eight armed friends 🐙

Given the recent attention on octopus blooms in south west England we thought we would share this wonderful illustration of the common octopus

📖 Histoire naturelle generale et particuliere des cephalopodes acetabuliferes vivants et fossiles

Vintage scientific illustration of an octopus with spread arms, detailed textured skin and muted brown-green coloration.

@bdcmuseum.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 1:11 PMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Delighted to be supporting this event by @lightbearlane.org to bring the wonder of magic lanterns to life in Exeter's oldest building, St Nicholas' Priory.

We will be contributing a pop-up display of our extensive collections.

Tickets available here: lnkd.in/eEZXzRh5

#magiclanternsky #cinemasky

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 8:45 AM

You can find out more about our archives relating to theatre - including the Theatre Royal - in our online guide! ⬇️

These materials are available for everyone to access for research or enjoyment in our reading room.

#TheatreHistory #TheatreArchives #Archives #Exeter
@uniofexeterdrama.bsky.social

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 8:30 AM

On 07 October 1889, the (New) Theatre Royal opened in Exeter. It was demolished in 1962.

Our collections include many items relating to the Theatre Royal, including 2,383 playbills!

#OnThisDay #TheatreHistory #TheatreArchives #Archives #Exeter #ExeterHistory @uniofexeterdrama.bsky.social

Colourised postcard showing the last Theatre Royal on the corner of Longbrook Street and New North Road.

Five Theatre Royal (Exeter) playbills dating from 1891 to 1932

@dexinst.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 3:58 PMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Are you a student interested in the history of medicine? 🔎📜Why not drop in to our free Dissertation Inspiration session to learn more about our collection! There are plenty of opportunities to conduct original research here at the DEI! Tuesday 20th October, 2-4pm

@literatureworks.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 2:44 PMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

🌊If you could write a letter to the sea, what would it say? ✉️

It’s our pleasure to share a new digital anthology showcasing writing by local people created during Dr Rosemarie Corlett’s period as Plymouth Laureate of Words 2023-2025.

literatureworks.org.uk/letters-to-t...

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 9:28 AM

Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the badgers, for today is their special day!

To celebrate National Badger Day, here is an illustration of a badger from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.

📷 Reserve 590 BUF

#NationalBadgerDay #BadgerDay #RareBooks

Cropped image from a book, showing a colour illustration of a badger standing on a patch of grass, painted in shades of black, white and green.

@bdcmuseum.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 3:57 PMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

🕵️‍♂️Happy James Bond Day to those who celebrate!

Today marks the anniversary of the London premier of Dr No in 1962🔫

Speculation is rife about who will be the next James Bond - who would you choose?

#filmsky #jamesbondday #007 #drno

@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 9:50 AM

This map by Benjamin Donn was produced as part of a 12-sheet map of Devon in 1765. Donn was awarded £100 from the Royal Society for the Arts for the best 1 inch to a mile survey of an English county.

📷 Townsend Maps T8; digitised by @dhlabexeter.bsky.social

#MapMonday #MondayMaps #MappingOurExeter

Black-and-white engraved county map of Devon. The map shows towns, villages, roads, rivers and coastal features throughout Devon, with Lundy Island depicted off the north-west coast. Includes an ornate title cartouche, compass rose, scale bar and graticule border. Printed on laid paper with visible fold marks and age-related discolouration.

@theppl.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 8:59 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Recent article in the Plymouth Post.:
plymouthpost.uk/plymouth-ent...

@penleehousegallery.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 9:44 AMReposted by @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social

Happy World Teacher Day! 👩‍🏫 School is Out, 1889, by Elizabeth Adela Forbes This painting depicts the schoolroom in the small village of Paul, just outside Newlyn. The small boy is Richard Vivian Spargo, whose two elder sisters are the red-haired girls laughing at him.

An oil painting of a schoolroom with a teacher, children in period clothing, wooden desks, a map on the wall, and sunlight streaming through a door.

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