Manuscript Collections

Christine de Pisan, Collected Works, circa 1410-1411. Group of seated figures, two holding books, engaging in discussion. Harley MS 4431, f.101. Copyright © The British Library Board

Collections by Curatorial Area

The Department of Manuscripts is divided into the following areas:

Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts (circa 300 BC to 1603)

Modern Historical Collections (1603 to the Present)

Literary and Theatrical Collections

Named Collections

The manuscripts held by the British Library comprise of a series of named collections that have been acquired over the history of the British Museum and the Library, from the Foundation Collections (Cotton, Harley and Sloane) to the series of Additional Manuscripts. The latter comprise the largest collection of manuscripts.

Manuscripts are rarely arranged thematically, as most recent acquisitions are simply added to the continuing 'Additional' series, and 'closed' collections, assembled by collectors before being acquired by the British Library, naturally encompass a wide variety of material.

Western Manuscripts

Records for many Western Manuscripts including: Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts, Modern Historical Collections (1603 to the Present) and Literary and Theatrical Archives and Manuscripts can be found on Search our Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts. The following catalogues or parts of collections are not yet included in the online catalogue (although selected Burney, Harley, and Yates Thompson manuscripts are included in the digital Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts): 

• Additional Manuscripts: Add MS 5018-10018
• Burney Manuscripts 
• Church Briefs
• Cotton Charters and Rolls
• Harley Manuscripts, Charters and Rolls: Harley Manuscripts [Harley MS] are currently being added
• Lansdowne Charters and Rolls
• Lord Frederick Campbell Charters
• Sloane Charters and Rolls
• Topham Charters
• Yates Thompson Manuscripts

For detailed and special catalogues, and other finding aids not forming part of the online catalogue, see M.A.E. Nickson, Guide to the catalogues and indexes of the Department of Manuscripts (3rd ed. London, 1998).

Manuscripts Collections Reader Guides

These guides are designed to be printed and read.

• Principal large collections (PDF format) 60KB

• Selected smaller collections and microforms (PDF format) 74KB

• The play collections (PDF format) 80KB

• The papyrus collections (PDF format) 58KB

• Charter, roll and seal collections (PDF format) 65KB

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