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This article explores the history of medieval paper in England, noting that most of it was imported and very little has survived. The introduction of paper in the early fourteenth century and the impact of printing at the end of the fifteenth century are discussed, highlighting how paper allowed more people to become writers and readers. The article also touches on the psychological impact of paper on the literary imagination and the ambivalence between paper and parchment as writing supports. The author's research is based on a systematic census of manuscripts in Cambridge University Library, but the lack of surviving archives in England poses a challenge. Another text discusses the formats and origins of medieval manuscripts, focusing on agenda or oblong formats found in Cambridge manuscripts. The author criticizes previous sources for their lack of information on formats and discusses the use of agenda formats in accountancy and music. The origins of medieval paper are briefly mentioned, with Italy dominating in the early fourteenth century and French papermakers gradually taking over. The importance of watermarks in determining the source of paper is emphasized, with examples provided from manuscripts in the Cambridge University Library. Another text discusses the author's analysis of watermarks found in manuscripts and their significance in determining the origin and age of the paper. Examples of different watermarks and their potential origins are given, such as Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The importance of paper evidence in studying the history of papermaking and its impact on the printing industry is also mentioned. The author points out some errors and inconsistencies in the book [Extracted from the article]

This paper reports on a study on delinquent acts in three academic libraries in northern Ghana. A survey method was used for the study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study population consisted of staff in the Reader Service Sections of the three libraries. The study found that failure to observe library regulations, keeping overdue materials, eating in the library, littering, reserving seats unjustifiably, and hiding of books for the purpose of monopoly are examples of delinquent acts practiced by library users. According to the participants, the main reasons for delinquent acts are inadequate orientation to users, insufficient copies of books, and indiscipline among library users. The respondents further reported that these actions led to a reduction in library resources and low patronage. To curb deviant behaviors in libraries, the study recommends the adoption of pragmatic approaches including massive orientation for users, imbibing positive library culture that fosters respect, bolstering commitment and cooperation among library users and the staff, increasing library budgets as well as finding more creative ways of acquiring more copies of books, such as using Open Educational Resources (OERs), belonging to consortia and building and/or enhancing existing Institutional Repositories (IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectral references for various formulations of iron gall inks, logwood inks and mixtures of both types were acquired during this study. The samples, either liquid or dry inks and applied on paper, were analysed using a portable Raman spectrometer, both with 852 and 785 nm excitation lines, and a confocal dispersive Raman microscope with two different excitations, namely 785 and 532 nm. It was found that longer wavelengths are more suitable for the analysis of iron gall inks and that the spectral response of logwood inks is relatively more dependent on the excitation line. For the mixtures, it is suggested analyses be performed with both longer and shorter wavelengths, since with a 785 nm line mainly the characteristic features of the metal-polyphenol complex in iron gall inks are detected, while the spectra collected with a 532 nm excitation contain information on the presence of logwood inks. The study was complemented by non-invasive reflectance infrared spectroscopy, which enabled the detection of tannic acid in iron gall inks and in the mixtures, and by micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to complement the reference set. The study aims to contribute to the development of non-invasive protocols for identification of inks in historic and artistic works on paper, such as manuscripts and drawings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data scarcity in paleographic image datasets poses a significant challenge to researchers and scholars in the field. Unlike modern printed texts, historical manuscripts and documents are often scarce and fragile, making them difficult to digitize and create comprehensive datasets. Recently many innovations have been arrived on single image generative models for natural images but none of them are focused on paleographic character images and other handwritten datasets. In paleographic images like stone inscription characters, maintaining exact shape and structure of character is important unlike natural images. In this paper we propose an unconditional single image generative model, CharGAN for isolated paleographic character images. In the proposed system, augmented images are generated from a single image using generative adversarial networks, while maintaining their structure. Specifically, an external augmentation inducer is used to create higher-level augmentations in the generated images. In addition, the input to the generator is replaced with dynamic sampling from a Gaussian mixture model to make changes to the low-level features. From our experimental results, we infer that these two enhancements make single-image generative models suitable not only for natural images, but also for paleographic character images and other handwritten character datasets, the AHCD dataset, and EMNIST, where the global structure is important. Both the qualitative and quantitative results show that our approach is effective and superior in single-image generative tasks, particularly in isolated character image generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important artillery manuals of the 15th century is the Feuerwerkbuch. The treatise was one of the first European didactic technical texts, intended for both artillerymen and their employers. After circulating in manuscript copies for over a hundred years, the text was first printed in 1529. By 1619 it had been published thirteen times in total, making it exceptional among military manuals published in Central Europe at that time. The content of the work has been studied by various medievalists and codicologists to date, but they were not usually concerned with later transformations of the publication. The aim of this paper is to characterise the changes in this work between the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Thirty Years' War and to trace its publication history and its publication relationship to other educational texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forms like ‮ ידורשהו ‬‎, viz. qal stem prefix conjugation forms with an object suffix in which a mater lectionis indicates the presence of a rounded vowel after the first radical, constitute the only unique Qumran Hebrew morphological trait that has no parallels in other traditions of the language. In this paper, I suggest a new explanation for the development of these forms (and of orthographically similar qal stem imperatives and infinitives). While previous research tried to explain the forms as resulting from analogy, I propose that they are (by and large) the result of regular sound change: vowel deletion of the unstressed stem vowel followed by the emergence of an epenthetic copy vowel that originated in the masculine plural forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sheds light on the manufacturing processes, techniques, and materials used in the splendid illuminations of the oldest surviving copy of De Balneis Puteolanis, preserved at the Angelica Library in Rome (Ms. 1474). The codex is one of the masterpieces of mid-13th-century Italian-Southern illumination, traditionally referred to as the commission of Manfredi, son of Frederick II. The findings reported in the article result from the interdisciplinary study conducted in 2021–2023 in the framework of "Codex 4D: journey in four dimensions into the manuscript", a multidisciplinary project involving many competences and dealing with art-historical studies on manuscripts, diagnostic and conservative analyses, scientific dissemination, storytelling, and public engagement. The considerations we present aims at increasing the knowledge of book artefacts while respecting their extraordinary complexity; data from non-invasive diagnostic investigations (X-ray fluorescence, Vis-NIR reflectance and Raman spectroscopies, hyperspectral imaging, and multi-band imaging techniques as ultraviolet, reflectography, and thermography), carried out in situ with portable instruments on the book, have been integrated with observations resulting from the historical-artistic study, and the reading of some ancient treatises on the production and use of the pigments and dyes employed in illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1524, Petrus Apianus published two closely related works—one the Latin Cosmographicus liber, aimed at an educated audience of international readers, and the other, Ein kunstlich Instrument, a shorter, more practical book for those who could read German but had no Latin. Both books nevertheless make use of most of the same instruments, including Apianus' early volvelles. Most of these instruments also reappear in subsequent editions of Cosmographicus liber (or Cosmographia, a frequent alternative title). While the Cosmographicus liber has received much scholarly attention, Ein kunstlich Instrument has received very little. In this paper we (1) set the instruments of Ein kunstlich Instrument in the context of Apianus' earlier work, especially his lost Mappa mundi and the extant booklets (Declaratio and Isagoge) that explained it, (2) compare the German- and Latin-language books of 1524, (3) explain in detail those instruments that have not heretofore been adequately discussed, and (4) explore their later history. We also make available, in the on-line edition of the Journal, working virtual copies of Apianus' instruments from Ein kunstlich Instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to study the poetic language of the Cantares de Dzitbalché. Despite its importance in the literary field, the texts contained in this Maya manuscript have received little interest from the rhetorical point of view. However, the use of parallelisms and other figures of semantic deepening make this work a masterful example of Maya poetry. Likewise, it is possible to observe in the texts an influence of the Hispanic tradition at the morphosyntactic and thematic level, which will also be analyzed and discussed throughout the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital restoration of historical manuscripts centers on deciphering hidden writings, made imperceptible to the naked eye due to factors such as erasure, fading, carbonization, and aging effects. Recent advancements in modern technologies have significantly improved our ability to unveil and interpret such written cultural heritage that, for centuries, had remained inaccessible to contemporary understanding. This paper aims to present a critical overview of state-of-the-art technologies, engaging in discussions about perspectives and limitations, and anticipating future applications. Serving as a practical guide, this work seeks to assist in the selection of techniques for digitally restoring ancient writings. Additionally, potential and challenges associated with integrating these techniques with advanced machine-learning approaches are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norway's Pioneering Editions of Old Norse Texts: The Creation of Keyser and Munch's Norges gamle Love indtil 1387 is a multivolume work that contains editions of Norwegian medieval laws dating back to before the first lawbook was published in print. The editors, Jakob Rudolf Keyser and Peter Andreas Munch, played an important role in documenting Norway's old linguistic, legal, and national roots. The process of transcribing and collating medieval Norwegian law manuscripts for the publication of Norges gamle Love was meticulous and time-consuming. The publication faced challenges in accessing necessary manuscripts, and the printing process took several years. The book series, Norges gamle Love, was distributed widely and received positive reviews, although the choice of typeface and paper quality has posed challenges for readers in later years. The manuscripts themselves have been well-preserved and are considered valuable historical sources. [Extracted from the article]

Tafseer "Al-Kashf wa-l-bayān ʿan tafsīr al-Qurʾān" is a Musnad Tafseer of the 5th century Hijra, which has recently uncovered and published. One of the features of this is that this Tafseer is source for many well-known Tafaseer; Tafseer Baghawi, Tafseer Ibn e Katheer etc. And the Ahadiths mentioned in it are quoted by the authors, based on his own chain till Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, so this book can also be considered as a book of Hadith of the 5th century. References to this Tafseer were present in many known Tafseers, but this Tafseer existed as manuscripts or their copies and lacked the modern style of writing and printing, due to which it was not possible for the common people to use this Tafseer. But Maktaba Dar al-Tafseer, Jeddah, in 2015, under the supervision of Dr. Salah Ba Usman, Dr. Hassan Ghazali, Dr. Zaid Hamish and Dr. Amin Basha, published it in 33 volumes and made it available to the public. This paper sheds light on the biography of Imam Tha'labi and proves as an account of salient features of his splendid work of Quranic interpretation. All the qualities of his work are explained in detail, and this helps the reader to get enough knowledge about this Tafseer and its literary pattern. In this way this research adds a contribution to the efforts to bring this glorious work of Imam in front of this World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]