Foliate initial from BL Royal 2 B XIV, f. 7

Foliate initial 'B'(eatus) with a full foliate border and the arms of Isabel, sister of Richard, duke of York, aunt of Edward IV impaled by those of her husband, Henry Bourchier, 1st earl of Essex, with two eagles as supporters, and with her badge, a fatterlock, combined with the badge of her husband, a knot. Image taken from f. 7 of Psalter, with 12 Canticles, Litany, and Office of the Dead, use of Sarum. Written in Latin.

The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 manuscripts that were once owned by the British monarchs, including English and later British kings and queens from the late 12th to the 19th centuries. These manuscripts are notable for their historical and artistic value.

The collection was initially stored in various royal libraries and palaces, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Palace. During the English Civil War in the 17th century and the subsequent Interregnum, many royal treasures, including manuscripts, were dispersed and sold. Some manuscripts were lost, destroyed, or ended up in private hands.

In 1757, King George II donated the Old Royal Library to the British Museum (which later became the British Library), where the manuscripts were integrated into the museum's collections. This marked the formal establishment of the Royal Manuscript Collection within the British Museum.

foliate bl royal b xiv manuscripts medieval latin manuscript coat of arms heraldry book of psalms psalter psalms illuminated initials medieval manuscript illustrated books medieval miniatures duke of york duke aristocracy british library

1300 - 1500

British Library

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Public Domain