Battle of Coquerel from BL YT 35, f. 71

Detail of a miniature of the Battle of Coquerel, from Jean Cuvelier's Chanson de Bertrand du Guesclin. Image taken from f. 71 of La chanson de Bertrand du Guesclin. Written in French.

Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who assembled this remarkable collection over his lifetime. The collection is now housed at the British Library in London.

Henry Yates Thompson was born into a wealthy family in 1838. Thompson began collecting manuscripts and other items in the 1870s. His collection quickly gained recognition for its exceptional quality and breadth. He had a keen eye for illuminated manuscripts, which are manuscripts decorated with intricate illustrations and calligraphy. The collection has a particular emphasis on medieval manuscripts.