December 4 – The Hydra
The serpentine water monster from Greek and Roman mythology, the Hydra, has a dog-like body and multiple heads – ranging from seven to nine –… Read More »December 4 – The Hydra
Advent Calendar
December 3 – Sea Monsters
Unable to pick just one of the fantastic beasts shown in this woodcut illustration, we decided to share them all! This chart of sea serpents… Read More »December 3 – Sea Monsters
December 2 – The Unicorn
As the first University in Scotland, we thought it would be fitting to start the St Andrews Library’s Special Collections advent calendar with the most… Read More »December 2 – The Unicorn
Advent Calendar 2019 – Fantastic Beasts
Last year we brought you an advent calendar of Christmas and winter themed images from our collections. For 2019, we have decided to do something… Read More »Advent Calendar 2019 – Fantastic Beasts
Advent Calendar 2018
We hope you have enjoyed our Special Collections themed advent calendar! Here are all of the posts from the 1st to 25th December 2018.
Advent Calendar: 25 December – Nativity
The Nativity of Christ from an illuminated manuscript book of hours produced in Rouen around 1470 (ms38938). The Book of Hours was a prayer book… Read More »Advent Calendar: 25 December – Nativity
Advent Calendar: 24 December – Snap-dragons, a tale of Christmas eve
Front cover and illustrations from Juliana Horatia Ewing’s Snap-dragons: a tale of Christmas eve; and, Old Father Christmas (Chi PZ7.E85S63). ‘Snap Dragons’ was originally published… Read More »Advent Calendar: 24 December – Snap-dragons, a tale of Christmas eve
Advent Calendar: 23 December – Mistletoe
Engraved illustration of mistletoe from Elizabeth Blackwell’s A Curious Herbal, published in 1739 (sf QK99.B5 Volume 1). Mistletoe has long been associated with Christmas –… Read More »Advent Calendar: 23 December – Mistletoe
Advent Calendar: 22 December – The Ruhleben Camp magazine
Illustration ‘The Christmas Pudding’ from the The Ruhleben Camp magazine, Christmas Issue, 1916 (r DG3A15). Ruhleben Gefangenenlager (British Civilian Internment Camp) was established after the… Read More »Advent Calendar: 22 December – The Ruhleben Camp magazine
Advent Calendar: 21 December – Remembrance
Pamphlet called Remembrance produced for Christmas 1916 by Mrs Herkless, wife of Principal John Herkless, and the ladies of the University. They brought out a… Read More »Advent Calendar: 21 December – Remembrance
Advent Calendar: 20 December – Christmas Post
Photographs of postman Andrew Kirk delivering Christmas parcels and of the Christmas rush at the post office depot in St Andrews, December 1936 (GMC-EA-324 and… Read More »Advent Calendar: 20 December – Christmas Post
Advent Calendar: 19 December – Snow Queen
Illustration of the Snow Queen from Andrew Lang’s The Pink Fairy Book published in 1897 (Lan PZ8.L2P5). The original fairy tale of the Snow Queen… Read More »Advent Calendar: 19 December – Snow Queen