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An impressive bouquet of flowers from Paul Contant's 'Le Bouquet Printanier', printed in 1600 in La Rochelle.

Somebody went to real efforts to erase what was written on the title page of this work on Roman obelisks from 1589. They scribbled out the inscription and pasted a slip of paper over it. Must've been scandalous!

The binder used a fragment of printed music to line the spine of the letters of Aldo Manuzio the younger, from 1592. Music was tricky to print & the page may have had an error, or perhaps it didn't sell. Whatever the reason, it ended up in the waste pile #Fragments #Bindings #LibrariesOfInstagram #Bookstagram

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the inaugural @museumplinthproject residencies for 2026.

Following a highly competitive open call, early-career artists Sian Costello (R) and Mel Galley (L) have been selected for six-month research residencies supported and hosted by the @nationalmuseumofireland and @marshslibrary respectively, and supported by @dublincityartsoffice Dublin City Arts Office and @thelabgallery

From July to December 2026, in tandem with @ep_ireland Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, both artists will develop new work through sustained engagement with collections, archives and institutional research.

Sian Costello and Mel Galley represent a new generation of research-led practitioners whose work engages critically and imaginatively with material culture, archives and systems of knowledge.

The selection panel was deeply impressed by the quality and ambition of submissions from artists across Ireland._________________________________________________Shortlisted artists included Emily McGardle @emmilymcg Sarah Edmondson @sarah_edmondsonSiofra Egan @siofraeganartSarah Ellen Lundy @sarahellenlundy Ally Nolan @allynolan1Conor O’Connell @conoroconnellartand Van Tran @van.trran________________________

Congratulations to Sian and Mel, and to all of the shortlisted artists.

Further information: Museum Plinth Project website

#MuseumPlinthProject #NationalMuseumOfIreland #MarshsLibrary #DublinCityArtsOffice TheLABGallery ArtistResidency EmergingArtists ArtistsInMuseums ResearchBasedArt IrishContemporaryArt.

A tiny map of Venice from the title page of a pamphlet printed in 1606. The pamphlet, 'Considerationi sopra le censure della Santita di Paolo V contra la serenissima Republica di Venetia' was printed during the Venetian Interdict of 1606-7, a quarrel between the Roman Church & Venice which led to a temporary excommunication of Venetian Catholics.

Calling all children!Ever wanted to know how those pop-up books work?Have a go at making your own pop-up bookshelf and librarian.A printable sheet and instructions can be found in the link in our bio. #Gulliver300 #PopUpBooks

A later owner tried to wash out a scribble on the title page of this Byzantine novel, but still the ownership inscription remains. A good thing too, as it tells us the book belonged to poet & playwright Ben Jonson.

A later owner tried to wash out a scribble on the title page of this Byzantine novel, but still the ownership inscription remains. A good thing too, as it tells us the book belonged to poet & playwright Ben Jonson.

A very relatable look of 'can I just get five minutes peace with my book'. From Le Rommant de la Rose, a hugely popular Medieval poem, printed in Paris, 500 years ago.

This children's pop-up book can be seen in our new exhibition, 'Gulliver 300'. We now have instructions on our website on how to make your own V-fold pop-up like this example (Link in bio!). Better still, #PrimaryTeachers canbook a pop-ups #workshop for their class here in the library.Get in before the summer break!

Lily of the valley is in bloom at the moment, as an early reader indicated in this herbal from 1552 #spring #flowers

Our new exhibition is a must-see.

The printer's mark of Huguenot printer Conrad Badius from 1562 showing a printing press and a quote from Genesis 3:19 reminding us that to labour is the lot of mortal humans: 'by the sweat of your brow you will eat'. A fitting sentiment after the bank holiday!