UCR 006 Characteristics · The Fold That Told: Of Leaf, Land & Usage · Ian Galbraith: CV, Bio, Digital Work, Medieval Explorations and Technocultures

Take a moment to maximize this video, press play and watch the detailed suturing- pay attention to the charecteristics of the Vellum and the fleshiness of the medium. Is there something unerving in the way the suture seems like a flesh wound?

"Grant by John Scot, feudatory of ecclesiastical lands of Culliesie, to his brother Andrew Scot and Christine Gourhall, Andrew's wife, of all ecclesiastical lands in the town of Culliesie, for 46 shillings per annum : dated Nov. 21, 1584" (UCR Special Collections).

A quick shot to place you in the archive with the magnifying glass over the leaf. Note the size of the seal in relation to the rest of the manuscript.

Suturing shown on the skin side gives insight into the restless nature of manuscripts in general, their embodiment, the complexity that came with writing and reading in the fluid, mobile form of the folding almanac.

Another view of the hair side of UCR 006 shows us almanac folds, zoomed out views of pricking and fascinating moments of referential data. Consider why this information would have been written on the hair side of the folding almanac, could it be a matter of quick reference and if so does this tell us something more complex about the supposedly "straightforward" almanac?

If one is to build a case for the complex embodiement and spatial aspects of Medival folding almancs through a study of land grants, these outer panels imbued with brief bibliogrpahic details prove to be quite important.

A view of the seal from the front.

The exquisite details of the seal excite the eye, it's vibrant red, it''s curvature seems seductive. The seal commands attention and promises authority. Why has the seal been so tragically missing from every other leaf in my study?