We were very kindly invited down to the @litandphil.bsky.social for a private tour and handling session!
We went down as a group and got a detailed behind the scenes tour of the building and its rich history, as well as a handling session with some of the books in their collection. Thank you! 📚📖
A scan of a novelty postcard by A.G. Steglitz from 1904. It is faded, perhaps originally coloured by hand. A young lady in a rural scene gazes at what appears to be a gigantic egg a metre tall which is cracking, about to hatch.
Easter Opening Hours
We close for Easter at 7pm on Thursday 2nd April
We reopen at 9.30am on Tuesday 7th April
#Easter
A scan of a plain, uncoloured illustration showing; 'Part of the Wall near BENWELL HILL, with an Apple Tree growing upon it's Summit.' The portion of the wall is marked as being '36 feet long, 9 wide & 5 high' Hutton, producing an account of his journey in The History of the Roman Wall. Walking 600 miles from his Birmingham home, along the wall, and back home again, he wrote in the preface, "I have given a short sketch of my approach to this famous Bulwark; have described it as it appears in the present day, and stated my return. Perhaps, I am the first man that ever traveled the whole length of this Wall, and probably the last that will ever attempt it ..."
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No.75 From William Hutton’s 'History of the Roman Wall' describing its appearance in the year 1801.
Hutton (1723-1815) is generally held to be the first person in modern times to walk the entire length of Hadrian's Wall.
The front page of our website has links to the files for the
Library Assistant Job Description & the Application Form!
www.litandphil.org.uk
A photograph of a corner bookshelf of the Lit & Phil library, chock full of history books!
We are recruiting!
We are seeking a part-time library assistant, working 12 hrs per week
The closing date for applications is Monday 23 March
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 31 March
Contact the library on 0191 232 0192 or library@litandphil.org.uk for more information and an application form
A colour photograph of a stairlift at the bottom of a flight of stairs, ready for use.
We are delighted to announce that our brand new stairlift is now installed and ready to use!
A scan of a small section of an old map of Lower Egypt.
An uncoloured illustration of a view of Belbeis. The town is seen in the distance in an arid landscape with encampments outside the walls with a few palm trees. Of Belbeis the author says: “Belbeis is a tolerably large town and has several mosques. The Nile supplies it with water in great abundance by a canal at the time of its increase; this supply maintains the vegetation of a considerable number of palm and other trees. There are also good melons and water melons but no pulse. This town, with its territory, is governed by a Kiaschef or officer of the Pacha of Cairo.”
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No.63 Egypt
From Volume II of "Travels of Ali Bey in Morocco, Tripoli, Cyprus, Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Turkey between the years 1803 and 1806" 1st English edition, 1816.
#oldbooks #libraries
Book cover of We Have Come To Be Destroyed: Growing Up In Cold War Britain showing a group of children against an eerie blue-green backdrop.
Delighted to be speaking about my forthcoming book We Have Come To Be Destroyed: Growing Up In Cold War Britain at the fantastic @litandphil.bsky.social on 30 April! Do come along if you're Newcastle/NE based - admission free www.litandphil.org.uk/event/we-hav...
A scan of a coloured print illustration of a Coprosma Cuncata(?) plant showing the stages and structure of fruit and seed development.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No. 121 ANTARCTIC FLORA
From ‘The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the years 1839-1843[...]' by Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911)
#oldbooks #libraries #illustration
The Lit & Phil Bi-Centennial Logo, it says 'The Lit & Phil 200, at home since 1825'
Replacement Stair Lift News!
A new stair lift will be installed on Monday 16th February. There may be some disruption and noise on the day, for which we apologise in advance.
Members and visitors may be asked to use an alternative staircase for a short period.
A stark book cover in black, white and orange for MAN AGAINST MICROBE showing 3 artillery pieces firing, as though at falling microscope slides showing the outline of microbes.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No. 325 "Man Against Microbe" by Bigger, Joseph W.
Imprint: London; The Book Club, 1941.
#books #bookcovers #libraries
A photo of a small statue of Joseph Swan with a jolly little knitted santa claus in his lap.
Early Closure
Due to the annual members’ gathering on Thursday 18th December, the library will close at 6pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
A photograph of our new Christmas card for 2025, featuring an old woodcut illustration of a Reindeer with the addition of a shiny red nose.
Our new Christmas cards are back in stock!
Please enjoy ‘The Rein-Deer’ by Thomas Bewick with a festive twist.
6 cards for £8
www.litandphil.org.uk/shop/christm...
All three Nunkie/ThomThomFilms documentaries are now viewable for free on YouTube:
Wits in Felixstowe youtu.be/iYq-MS1790Y
Dim Presences youtu.be/Ne2kYzwvHOI
The Shrew Ash youtu.be/-T4qTLeaaxg
You can subscribe to the Nunkie Youtube channel and let us know what you think...
This postcard I wrote to a young reader, Sasha Stephenson, was returned to me, as she no longer lives at the address she gave me. Please help me to get it to her if you can!
Tickets are still available for tonight's NU Ideas Talk: "Growing a House" & "Specialisation is for Insects"!
www.litandphil.org.uk/event/nu-ide...
A LIVE Event at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tickets are FREE for Monday 3rd November | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Brand new book design for @amstirling.bsky.social’s collection of stories launching at Newcastle’s @litandphil.bsky.social on Wednesday 8 October.
Thirteen’s cover design is loosely based on Charles Demuth’s 1928 painting, I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold.
#bookdesign #graphicdesign #freelance
A scan of the black and white illustration of 'THE NEVER-NEVER LAND', showing Peter Pan playing his pipes surrounded by wild beasts, with the pirate crew marching and singing in the background along the coast to their ship.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No.29 "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up"
J.M. Barrie First edition 1911. Illustrated by F.D. Bedford
Don't miss
@jakecampbell88.bsky.social on a mini book tour in the North-East this autumn, with events at Durham Book Festival,
@crossingthetees.bsky.social, Blyth Celebrates and #Newcastle @litandphil.bsky.social.
A scan of an uncoloured print showing a sea otter at rest on the Canadian coast.
The title page of the multi volume set: "Reizen Rondom de Waereld: James Cook, Vertaald Door J.D. Pasteur Met Kaarten en Plaaten Elfde Deel." Depicting two cherubs uncovering the Earth.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems
No. 47 "Cook – title page and Zee-Otter"
Images from 'Reizen Rondom de Waereld: James Cook’s Voyages', published in Dutch in 13 vols. between 1795-1803.
#books #libraries #illustration
Tickets are LIVE for "The Wylam Song Cycle : A Railway200 Celebration"
www.litandphil.org.uk/event/the-wy...
A LIVE concert at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tickets are £10 or £8 for concessions, for 1pm on Friday 26th September
#concert #live #music
A colour plate depicting the lifecycle of the Lobster Moth. It is shown as an egg, a caterpillar on a leaf, a cocoon and an adult moth.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems.
No.71 'The Lobster Moth'
From Edward Donovan’s ‘Natural History of British Insects’ Volume V, published in (1796)
#antique #books #illustration #libraries
A scanned, uncoloured etching of the Scotswood Bridge surrounded by a bucolic rural idyll.
The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems.
No.66 "Scotswood Bridge over the Tyne"
From ‘Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland, Illustrated from original drawings by Thomas Allom, & c.' (1833)
#old #books #illustration
Another excellent visit to the @litandphil.bsky.social Took a while but got another 5 books for my #readtheworld challenge
Thursday 30th October | 6pm. Free Lecture in association with Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling. Department of Geography and Environment, Northumbria University. Sustainable Polar Science For A Changing Climate, with Professor Andrew Shepherd and Dr Sammie Buzzard. At the Lit & Phil, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE.
🗓️Save the date: Thursday 30th October | 6pm
Join us at the @litandphil.bsky.social for...
🐧'Sustainable Polar Science for a Changing Climate' a free lecture with @andyshepherd.bsky.social and @treacherousbuzz.bsky.social.
www.litandphil.org.uk/event/sustai...
Tickets are LIVE for the talk: "War Horse: Service Animals in the Military"
www.litandphil.org.uk/event/war-ho...
A LIVE Event at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tickets are FREE for Monday 1st September | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
A zoomed in shot of the Phoenix plate with, annotated by hand, the comment 'A Phoenix as vulgarly painted'
'A Phoenix as vulgarly painted' Well, everyone's a critic!
Tickets are LIVE for "Gerald Dickens presents: Sikes and Nancy & The Tale of Captain Murderer"
www.litandphil.org.uk/event/gerald...
A LIVE Event £15 / £12 (concessions) at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne
Thursday 4th September | 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Spend a short while in the company of Mrs Affleck, the woman who worked as a cleaner for the Lit & Phil for over 20 years.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aVD...
Brought to life in a monologue by Anita Holbrow, portrayed by Jacqueline Phillips, with soundscape by Kit Haigh. Directed by Cinzia Hardy.
