National Museums Scotland Library

Requested by a reader this week is 'The Expert Sword- Man's Companion' from 1728. Below is the first lesson on fighting with the small sword. You are to start by taking off your hat with your left hand although these two gents below seem to have gone straight to attack mode!

The library📚wishes you all a Happy😀#WorldEmojiDay 💩

Always a treat to discover items you didn't know about when they are requested to the reading room. This Album of archaeological sketches by Adam De Cardonnel features drawings and information on the Temple of Sulis Minerva- Goddess of healing, water and curses!

Found within a bound volume on Orkney is this 18th century account of the notorious criminal John Gow ,Alias Smith the Pirate, taken from The Malefactor's Register; or The Newgate and Tyburn calendar and includes an engraving of a pirate being hanged at Execution Dock.

Today is #SummerSolstice. From the 1815 book 'Costume of the original inhabitants of the British Islands' are these two wonderfully attired Druids ready for the celebrations #librarytwitter

It's #FootballFriday so from the archives is a photo from 1935 of the Scottish supporters wearing their finest tartan scarves and bunnets on their way to a match at Wembley

@AIUlysses @StuartKells luckily Jean sounds equally terrifying and appears does indeed 'rule the hoose'!

@NMSlibraries @StuartKells Wouldn’t like to bump into ‘Fechtin Jock’ he sounds like a right wrong un’

Although we are no stranger to finding scraps of paper and sticky notes inside returned books *Stares in Librarian*😡,We found this inside a book that has remained half read for some time! An awesome old fish shaped bookmark advertising Cod Liver Oil #librarytwitter

Did you know that our library has books on nearly every subject? After hearing a lot of people talking about these topics in Edinburgh all week, we thought we would bring these books from the Costume and Ornithology sections #FunFactFriday #EdinburghTStheErasTour

Our volunteers have been working on upgrading our rare book records including 'The Natural History of the Feline Species' by William Rhind. This book from 1824 has over 30 coloured plates. Here are a few highlights #CatsAndTwitter #LibraryTwitter

Spotted in our volume of 'A miscellany of proof prints for named 19th century Chambers publications' was this image that reads very much like a typical day of Scottish weather! you can find out more about the Woodblock collection here: tinyurl.com/37khyjss

Being read in the library this week are the papers of the Naturalist and Ornithologist Sir William Jardine. From one of his scrapbooks are these detailed drawings of a Common Ringed Plover and a Little Tern. You can find out more about the collection here tinyurl.com/7zt3phtx

It was #OnThisDay in 1859 that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born. His well known story, The Lost World, is the basis of our resident book sculpture Dinosaur. You can visit the terrifying prehistoric creature (and the librarians) in our library Tuesday to Friday 10am until 4pm🦖

It's always a joy to browse through Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel. From 1904, this book features not only a rather beautiful cover, but 100 stylised scientific illustrations inside #TuesdayTreat #LibraryTwitter

Found inside the Journal of Design and Manufacturers, from 1850, are these gorgeous purple hued fabric samples. Hidden inside this book, they have remained vibrant even though they over 170 years old #FabricFriday

While reshelving this 1838 edition of 'Essay on the Geology of the Lothians' by RJH Cunningham, we found this charming little watercolour of the Bass Rock surrounded with gannets. #foundfriday #librarytwitter

Today is #NationalTelephoneDay which is held to celebrate the invention of the telephone. From the collection is a trade catalogue for Sterling Telephone & Electric Co. showing the latest technology in mobile phones

A cutting from the Scottish Life Archive warning to stay away from strange horse like creatures, sometimes known as the Shoopiltee, or Water Nuggle, who appears as a cute wee Shelty Pony but will run you into the water to your demise! #Archive30 #SomethingScary

The theme for #Archive30 today is #ArchiveTravel .From the archive of scientist and explorer,William Speirs Bruce, is this painting thought to illustrate the Scotia Expedition by W.G. Burn Murdoch. Find out what else is in this collection by visiting tinyurl.com/2m3wuvvu

Today’s theme for the @ARAScot #Archive30 is #ArchiveFashion and from the Jenners archive collection is this catalogue for ‘historical’ fancy dress. The Chieftainess outfit is a whole vibe and perfect for the summer festival season