Investigating Provenance: The Use and Abuse of Early Printed Books

Drop in to the Gallery to discover how we can use clues in 15th century printed books to discover more about how they have been used – and often abused! – over the last 500 years.

Book labels, bookplates, annotations, dedications, visual marginalia and other evidence can reveal fascinating details about the lives and libraries of previous owners. On whose shelves did these books once sit? What can bindings tell us about how these books were regarded? And why did some people choose to scribble and doodle in the margins?

Special Collections staff will be in the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery with a selection of highlights from the collections for visitors to examine close up. Incunabula from Lord Brotherton’s personal library will be on show alongside items from the Ripon Cathedral Library which is held on long term deposit at the University of Leeds.