In 1908, a man offered a few old deeds to the British Museum. When told that they were only worth 3 shillings, he accepted, writing back that at least "It will purchase my little son a toy"

Sometimes enquirers to the British Museum added illustrations, these are of the Moat House in Appleby Magna, and a carving in the church there

The Medieval Roots of Warhammer 40,000’s Endless Crusade, by Rory MacLellan medievalists.net/2024/10/the-me… #crusades #videogames #Warhammer

Never seen as casual an effigy as this one in Cologne Cathedral. Earliest depiction of a manicure?

From Private Eye

Receipt for a gift to the shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne cathedral in 1306, given on behalf of Edward I of England. Cotton Ch XV 14. The shrine still survives and I got to see it myself and walk under it a few weeks ago. #hiddencollections #medievaltwitter

In January 1914, a Hungarian professor offered the British Museum two manuscripts that claimed English, French, German, and Hungarian are all actually Syrian languages. Unsurprisingly, there appears to have been no reply

Reading some First World War letters today, does anyone know what sort of "nose trouble" could lead someone to be invalided out of the army just after finishing training?

In 1915, a man calling himself the 'Chevalier de Saint George' and writing in the 3rd person contacted the British Museum to correct a panel about his ancestors, the Jacobite pretenders. His gravitas is undermined slightly by the return address of an apartment block in Brixton

What a brilliant evening at the opening of the British Library exhibit 'Medieval Women: In Their Own Words' —absolutely unmissable! Honoured to have contributed to the companion book alongside Louise J. Wilkinson. Superb work from Medieval Manuscripts bringing this amazing project to life.

Historian bucketlist: 1. Hold a lion femur excavated from the Tower of London 2. Cite a Nic Cage movie in a publication 3. Get a medieval poem about a pet monkey into a major exhibition at the British Library

A letter from the deputy keeper of manuscripts at the British Museum to the keeper of manuscripts, showing that historians have been annoyed by "King John signed Magna carta" since at least 1941. #medievaltwitter

Baconian offers what he believes to be Francis Bacon's Bible, supposedly full of invisible writing and somehow proves he was Shakespeare. Is not impressed when the British Museum says they're not interested.

Today's blogpost by Rory MacLellan examines why the British Museum declined to acquire certain manuscripts in the period 1904-1954. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

A handwritten account by Christopher Columbus of his second voyage to the Americas in 1493? Or is it? blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…