THE BRITISH LIBRARY
Digital Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts
Detail from the Roman de la Rose
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Use this website to find and view descriptions and images of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the British Library, one of the richest collections in the world.

 

Quick search:

  You can

   •   perform a quick search (this searches for a word or number in all sections of each catalogue entry, including images);
   •   perform a simple search using keywords and dates;
   •   look for information about a particular manuscript if you know its collection name and manuscript number;
   •   perform an advanced search using different types or combinations of information;
   •   explore the virtual exhibitions of various aspects of the British Library's western illuminated manuscript holdings; and
   •   check the illustrated glossaries of terms.
   •   download digital images for further reuse such as in educational contexts, placing on your blog or sharing with others. Please see guidance notes on Access and Reuse.

Updated 5th August 2022. Please note that only selected manuscripts in the Additional collection and no manuscripts in the Cotton collection are included in the Catalogue.

New records are added at each update and some records have been modified and updated.

Entries may include select bibliography only. For more current bibliography and other information please search our main manuscripts catalogue at Search Our Catalogues, Archives and Manuscripts. Full digital coverage of selected manuscripts is also available on Digitised Manuscripts. For details of how to use the system, see our search tips.
 
 AHRC  Getty  Il Circolo

Supported by grants from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the Getty Foundation "Il Circolo" Italian Cultural Association, the American Trust for the British Library in memory of William T. Golden, the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, Roger and Julie Baskes, Chicago, USA, and an anonymous donor.
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