Tolkien Reading Day 2020 and Travel Post 4: Tolkien Exhibits!

Today is Tolkien Reading Day!

Here is the theme and suggested readings from the Tolkien Society:



I'm using this day to catch up on my photos of the three wonderful Tolkien events I've attended in the last two years: Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth (at Oxford); Tolkien 2019 (a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Tolkien Society; in Birmingham); and Tolkien: Journey to Middle-earth (in Paris).

Here are all my scattered photos:

Tolkien's maps and drawings, at Oxford


It's striking seeing some of the sketches and paintings in person, as so many are smaller than yo'd think


My copy of the exhibition book!


Unwrapping it slowly...

I got number 210!



Signed letter from Priscilla Tolkien


I read the catalogue before I saw the exhibit! Which is why I didn't take as many photos in Oxford; I knew my photos wouldn't match the catalogue quality. Too bad, I don't seem to have a photo of my daughter, who came with me!

Tolkien 2019




I still want this book!

Meeting Dr Dimitra Fimi!



Paris!




Tapestries! See below for a link




The Book of Mazarbul




Arthurian tales. There's something so thrilling about seeing books that are nearly a millennium old.


























I tried to take as many photos of the explanatory labels as I could, but some didn't come out clearly. And it seems I forgot to take a photo of the ancient Scandinavian sword!

Tolkien's timeline for The Lord of the Rings

As for the tapestries above: I've recently backed this Kickstarter project! (Hoping that by the time this post goes up, the project will have been fully funded): Aubusson weaves Tolkien: Support the weaving of two tapestries after JRR Tolkien


I'm woefully behind on ROW80 and other updates. I haven't been doing too badly though -- getting regular edits done each day on Captive of the Sea, and adding to my list of the all the items I still need to research.

Do you have good sources for the 15th Century?
Please send me research recommendations!

Comments

Hi Deniz - it's wonderful you've got your record and were able to visit the Bodleian and see the other exhibitions in Paris and Birmingham ... must have been lovely having Emily with you ... you've got lots of notes to look at though ... and your book - that's magnificent ... #210 - special. So pleased for you ... cheers Hilary
Just seen 'request' - not sure if this will help:
https://www.bl.uk/events/15th-century-books-survival-and-detective-techniques

Cheers H
Wow, that was a lot at the exhibit! Must be the world's largest collection.
Deniz Bevan said…
Oh, thanks, Hilary!
I rolled three exhibits into one post, Alex! A lot of them shared the same items, but each had new items, too. So glad I got to see them!
Christine said…
That is an amazing exhibit, thanks for sharing.
I love museums- but a book museum? Totally swoon worthy!
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks, Elizabeth and Christine!