Senate House Library

📖✨ Last week we welcomed delegates from the 78th National Postgraduate Colloquium in German Studies for a special visit to the Caxton exhibition at Senate House Library.

The visit highlighted a wonderful collaboration between the Library and the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, bringing together material from both collections to explore the history of German printing and publishing.

Among the highlights were:
📚 An incunable Legenda Aurea (Golden Legend) printed by Anton Koberger — the most important printer in fifteenth-century Germany
📜 The first edition of Martin Luther’s German New Testament — a landmark in publishing history

Delegates enjoyed experiencing these remarkable works up close: feeling the strength and quality of the paper in the Legenda Aurea, spotting the controversial crowned dragon imagery in the Luther Bible, and discovering the many stages involved in producing early printed books — from casting type to illuminating finished pages.

A fascinating afternoon of print history, craftsmanship, and collaboration. ✨

📚✨ Fresh in the Catalogue Hall for May! ✨📚

Our new loanable books display is here — and this month we’re celebrating the power of anthologies! From diverse voices and unforgettable stories to bold styles and new perspectives, these collections bring so much together in one place. 🌍📖

Whether you’re discovering a new favourite genre, exploring different viewpoints, or dipping into something completely unexpected, there’s an anthology waiting for you at Senate House Library.

Stop by the Catalogue Hall and see what speaks to you this May ✨

Discover the history of slavery and abolition through a powerful new digital resource now available at Senate House Library.

📚 Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive brings together primary sources from across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Britain, and the United States, tracing the transatlantic slave trade from its origins to emancipation.

The archive includes:
• Slave narratives and personal accounts
• Court records and legal documents
• Newspapers, pamphlets, and political writings
• Plantation and business records
• Materials from both pro- and anti-slavery movements

Spanning the late 15th to 19th centuries, this resource offers researchers and students an unparalleled opportunity to explore the lived experiences, resistance, and legacies of slavery from multiple perspectives.

The database also features research tools including Topic Finder, Term Frequency visualisations, expert essays, and guidance on historical terminology and archival research.

Available onsite and offsite via the Gale Primary Sources platform for eligible members of the University of London federation.