Your chance to write an essay and win £500

The Gordon Duff Prize is awarded for an essay on a subject relating to the science or arts of books and manuscripts. 

The Gordon Duff Prize is an annual competition and is open to all members of the University. There is an award of £500 for the winner(s) of the competition: the prize can be shared for a co-written work or attributed to two separate entries.  

In 2019, the prize was won by James Burke for his essay on 'The custodial history of the ‘Sadler Partbooks’ (GB-Ob MSS Mus. e. 1–5)'. In 2018, the winner was Jonathan Nathan.

Proposals have to be sent in before the last day of the Michaelmas term, and the winner(s) will be presented with their prize at a meeting of the Friends of the University Library during Easter term.