Illuminated manuscripts: a guide to the British Library’s collections
Medieval and earlier manuscripts held by the British Library are found in many collections, each with its own history, character and catalogues. This guide is intended as an overview of these collections for those interested particularly in illuminated manuscripts, and supplements information available about manuscripts on the British Library website.
The history of the British Library and its collections is intertwined with that of the British Museum. In 1973 the Library became a separate institution, the British Library and in 1998 its collections moved to a new building at St Pancras. Thus, the descriptions of the manuscript collections in this Guide often refer to the acquisition of manuscripts and collections by the British Museum.
Select one of the links to see details of different collections
Links and Further Reading
M.A.E. Nickson, The British Library: Guide to the catalogues and indexes of the Department of Manuscripts (3rd edition, London, 1998).
P.R. Harris, A History of the British Museum Library 1753-1973 (London, 1998).
Edward Miller, That Noble Cabinet: A History of the British Museum (London, 1973).
Arundell Esdaile, The British Museum Library: A short history and survey (Norwich, 1948), esp. pp.226-293.
Treasures of the British Library, compiled by Nicolas Barker and others (London: British Library, 2005).
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