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Our collection

Here are just a few of the heritage items in our collection that, through your generous support, the Library is able to protect for the future.

Please click on an item to enlarge and start a slideshow.

Sir John Narbrough's Journal - Map  macclesfield-3

Alfred and Irma Prunesquallor from Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast    A page from Harold Pinter's The Homecoming

Beowulf    Sherborne Missal

Bede    Thomas Hardy - Tess of the D'Urbevilles

We value your support to help us acquire and conserve such amazing items, and make them available for everyone through our learning programmes, exhibitions and online research initiatives.

John Yearwood, Adopt a Book donor main photo

No one who loves literature as I do could fail to be a friend of the Library, and I count it a privilege to be able to contribute in a small way to the preservation of human genius for all humankind.

John Yearwood, Adopt a Book Supporter
Katherine Kreuter, Adopt a Book Supporter main photo

I think the British Library is a fabulous institution. I value the ability to give a useful Christmas gift that pleases my well-read mother as much as me.

Katherine Kreuter, Adopt a Book Supporter