Hertford’s library treasures – a celebration

15 October 2015

The Principal and Fellow Librarian cordially invite all alumni and friends to a special exhibition and dinner for those with an interest in the historic library and archive collections held by the college.

We have recently undertaken a full digitisation of a 1573 edition of the Ortelius Atlas. For the first time, this rare and magnificent volume will be freely accessible to all online in high resolution. In an exclusive exhibition arranged for the occasion, this copy will be on show for the last time at Hertford before we pass it back to the Humboldt University Library in Berlin, from whence it came at the end of the Second World War. Other treasures on exhibit, from the permanent historic collection, include a first edition of Newton’s Principia (1687), a 1517 herbal with woodcuts, one of our two beautifully illustrated volumes from the sixteenth-century engraver and publisher Theodor De Bry’s series on America, and another from the compendium of stunning sea charts, Great Britain’s Coasting-Pilot (1693).

We will also enjoy talks from Lucie Burgess, Hertford Senior Research Fellow and Head of Digital Libraries at the Bodleian (and Hertford alumna) and Dr Nick Millea, Head of Maps at the Bodleian.

Event timings:
4pm – 6pm: Exhibition of treasures from the library’s historic collection
6.00pm: Talks from Lucie Burgess, Head of Digital Libraries at the Bodleian, and Dr Nick Millea, Head of Maps at the Bodleian
6.45pm: Drinks in the Old Lodgings
7.30pm: Dinner in Hall

If you would like to join us for this special event, please book your place by following the link below – the talks are open to all, while dinner tickets cost £35 (you are welcome to bring a guest).