Collection guides

African government publications

Our African official publications are strongest for Anglophone countries

African manuscripts and archives

Original documents from and about the continent

African newspapers

Very rich historical newspaper collections in European and African languages

African philatelic material

Stamps, airmails and other philatelic material from Africa

African printed books and journals

Literary and research works, reports and historical publications

African-language collections

Important collections of books, manuscripts and audio-visual materials in African languages

Ethiopian collections

The Ethiopian collections include over 600 manuscripts in addition to recent monographs and serials

How to find and use the British Library's IIIF ena...

This collection guide will enable you to find and use our digitised collection items that are IIIF enabled.

Travel and exploration: archives and manuscripts,...

Archives and manuscript collections relating to travel and exploration, from 1600 to the present day

War Office Archive maps

Military intelligence maps and associated documents relating to East Africa