{"id":16551,"date":"2022-02-20T04:08:44","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T04:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/?p=16551"},"modified":"2022-02-22T00:58:01","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T00:58:01","slug":"i-was-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/i-was-here\/","title":{"rendered":"I Was Here . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

“I was Here . . . ” <\/strong><\/h1>\n

Books across Time and Place
\n(P. S.\u00a0 It’s What They Do)<\/h2>\n

We begin with a haunting page which came to my attention when its cataloger began to describe its challenges.\u00a0 The process had to do with preparing for a RGME roundtable disussion, arranged by request.\u00a0 We were considering, and we continue to consider, Catalogs, Metadata, and Databases, Part I<\/a> . . .<\/p>\n

To Whit:<\/h3>\n

Across my screen, as we considered case-studies for the round-table, came images from a challenge of a book.\u00a0 To call it a “Hybrid Book” puts it mildly.\u00a0 (In my book, “mildly” is not a simple, bland, boring term.)\u00a0 Besides, the RGME is preparing to examine the classes of “Hybrid Books” for some sessions in 2022.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile:<\/h3>\n

I offer for your consideration this page, which presents for inspection and reflection a series of layers of time, place, and material, in the best tradition of archaeological stratification.<\/p>\n

It comes from:\u00a0 Richard Twiss, Farrago<\/em>, folio 253 recto.<\/p>\n

AKA:\u00a0 Travelling in time, across the page, and across spaces, in the company of the print of the Pons Pragensis<\/a> (“Prague Bridge”) by Winceslaus Hollar<\/a> (1607 \u2013 25 March 1677).\u00a0 It carries the first-hand hand-written inscription recording that “I was here \/ from 20 to 26 September 1769”, along with details about the Charles Bridge (“18 arches. 618 paces long. broad enough for three carriages abreast”) and other features.<\/p>\n

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Richard Twiss, ‘Farrago’, held in the Unversity of Miami Special Collections, Artists’ Books Collection, ‘I was here’. Photograph Linde M. Brocato.<\/p><\/div>\n

Who knows if the inscription with the date of 1769 corresponds with the date of entry upon the page \u2014 even if its date might accurately record the span of the visit to the place?\u00a0 My question does not record a challenge.\u00a0 It simply registers a question relating to the material evidence.<\/p>\n

Nowadays<\/h2>\n

How about a view of the Charles Bridge now?\u00a0 Call it “Then and Now”.<\/p>\n

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Prague, Charles Bridge. Photograph Sergey Ashmarin, 2007. Image via Wikipedia Commons.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Few Pages<\/h2>\n

Title Page:\u00a0 “Farrago, A Collection of . . . “<\/h3>\n
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Richard Twiss, Farrago, held in the Unversity of Miami Special Collections, Artists’ Books Collection, ‘Title page’. Photograph Linde M. Brocato.<\/p><\/div>\n

Index:\u00a0 Anagrams, Charades, Etc.<\/h2>\n
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Richard Twiss, Farrago, held in the Unversity of Miami Special Collections, Artists’ Books Collection, ‘Index’. Photograph Linde M. Brocato.<\/p><\/div>\n

“Strolling”<\/h2>\n
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Richard Twiss, Farrago, held in the Unversity of Miami Special Collections, Artists’ Books Collection, ‘Strolling’. Photograph Linde M. Brocato.<\/p><\/div>\n

“Butterfly, Revealed”<\/h2>\n
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Richard Twiss, Farrago, held in the Unversity of Miami Special Collections, Artists’ Books Collection, ‘Butterfly’. Photograph Linde M. Brocato.<\/p><\/div>\n

More<\/h2>\n

On this book-as-assembly, see the Handlist of Links<\/a>:\u00a0 “Cataloging in Action:\u00a0 Case Studies or Exhibits”.<\/p>\n