Collection guides

About the collection

The manuscripts collection, together with a large collection of about 9,000 printed books donated by George II, is often referred to as the ‘Old Royal library’ to distinguish it from a later royal gift to the Museum of books and manuscripts from George IV (known as the King’s collection), and the current royal library at Windsor Palace.

The collection contains nearly 2000 manuscripts including around 1200 illuminated or decorated volumes. The royal donation was housed in the newly founded British Museum and now is held at the British Library.

Highlights from the collection include the Codex Alexandrinus, the Queen Mary Psalter, the Smithfield Decretals, the Talbot Shrewsbury book of poems and romances, the collected works of Charles Duc de Orléans, Henry VIII’s Psalter, and an autograph copy of the Basilikon Doron by James I of England. 

What is available online?

A full list of the Royal manuscripts can be browsed and are described in the online catalogue, Explore Archives and Manuscripts.

Some images of manuscripts containing illumination can be found on the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts.

A number of Royal manuscripts have been digitised in full on Digitised Manuscripts.

What is available in our Reading Rooms?

Most Royal manuscripts can be consulted in the Manuscripts Reading Room. Items in Hebrew and in Oriental languages can be consulted in the Asian and African Studies Reading Room.

Some items may require a letter of introduction.

Further information

Useful reference resources include:

• Carley, J. P., ed., The Libraries of King Henry VIII (London, 2000)
• Doyle, Kathleen and Scot McKendrick, eds, 1000 Years of Royal Books and Manuscripts (London, 2014)
• Warner, G. F. & J. P. Gilson, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Old Royal and King's Collections (London, 1921), 4 vols., with index in vol. 3 and plates in vol. 4