Seal of Gilbert Fitz Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke

The Lansdowne manuscripts are a significant named collection of the

British Library The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the Briti ...

, based on the collection of

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, (2 May 17377 May 1805; known as the Earl of Shelburne between 1761 and 1784, by which title he is generally known to history), was an Irish-born British Whig statesman who was the firs ...

. The purchase of the collection by the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docume ...

was in 1807.''

Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'', Kennett, White, D.D. (1660–1728), bishop of Peterborough, by Thompson Cooper. Published 1892. The main features of the collection, as outlined by

Nicholas Harris Nicolas Sir (Nicholas) Harris Nicolas (10 March 1799 – 3 August 1848) was an English antiquary. Life The fourth son of Commander John Harris Nicolas R.N. (1758–1844) and Margaret née Blake, he was born at Dartmouth. He was the brother of Rear Ad ...

, are: Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, ''A Description of the Contents, Objects, and Uses of the Various Works Printed by Authority of the Record Commission'' (1831), pp. 106–7
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*State papers and correspondence of

Lord Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598) was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from 1 ...

. *Papers of Sir Julius Caesar. *Papers of White Kennett; his manuscripts passed to James West and so to Lansdowne. *Historical papers from the 15th century to 18th century, relating to major figures in English history. * William Petyt's parliamentary papers, and papers of legal interest. *Topographical and heraldic collections.

Notes

External links

*''Catalogue of the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the British Museum'' (1819) (compiled by Henry Ellis and

Francis Douce Francis Douce ( ; 175730 March 1834) was a British antiquary and museum curator. Biography Douce was born in London. His father was a clerk in Chancery. After completing his education he entered his father's office, but soon quit it to devote ...

)
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{{British Library Named Collections British Library collections