Jerome from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 165v

Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(ribus) of Jerome in his bed chamber. Image taken from f. 165v of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with the Gospel of Nicodemus and the Interpretation of Hebrew names. 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.

jerome bl royal e ix manuscripts medieval bible of richard ii big bible great bible gospel of nicodemus england gospel latin manuscript initials historiated initials bible manuscript decoration illuminated initials medieval manuscript illustrated books medieval miniatures british library

1400 - 1425

British Library

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Public Domain