Libraries within the Library: The Origins of the British Library's Printed Collections

Dispersed along the shelves of the British Library today are many volumes that once stood side by side in private libraries. The contributors to "Libraries within the Library" present a collection of essays that explore some of the most important printed collections which were brought together to form the British Museum Library in 1753, casting new light on the individuals whose personal interests and taste they reflect. This book is divided into Introduction, The Foundation Collections, The Early Decades, The King's Library, Later Collections of Books within the British Museum library, Appendices.