In this highly-illustrated account, Nicolas Barker reveals the history of the British Library's treasure house of books and manuscripts. The Library's holdings cover collections spanning almost three millennia, from the establishment of the British Museum, which brought together the libraries of Sir Hans Sloane, Sir Robert Cotton and Robert Harley, first Earl of Oxford, to the foundation of the British Library in 1973 and to some outstanding acquisitions of the present day.
Award-winning duo Manning and Granstrm bring to life the extraordinary history of the book through the treasures of one of the greatest libraries in the world: the British Library.
This book, first published in 1937, examines the principles and practicalities of inter-library loans of books – making available to readers elsewhere otherwise idle books. Initially done on an ad-hoc basis, modern ideas and developments have led to a modern generation of librarians whose first aim is to see that their readers get the books they need.
An introduction to the history and techniques of writing that offers a thorough and accessible historical overview of techniques and processes, illustrated with examples, diagrams, and photographs of crafts people at work.
"Books have long been objects of beauty. For many centuries and in societies across the world, bookmakers have lavished great care on the paper, binding materials, and illustrations that surround the words on a page as well as on the lettering or type in which those words appear. This volume, featuring an array of beautiful books from the British Library's collection, focuses on the sensory experience of holding these objects in your hands. Each book represents a specific moment in the development of the object-from scrolls and bound illuminated manuscripts to paperbacks and formatted digital information. The books range from the seventh century to the present and include examples from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East as well as Europe and North America, with separate features on book traditions in Africa and Oceania. Expert curators and other specialists explore these books from the perspective of design and manufacturing, with original art photographs that zero in on their texture and materials as well as graphics that detail their size, number of folios, and other specifications. Offering a wide-ranging look at the creation and use of books, this volume is itself an object of beauty"--
An introduction to the history and techniques of manuscript illumination that offers a thorough and accessible historical overview of techniques and processes, illustrated with examples, diagrams, and photographs of craftspeople at work.
In 1518, Wynkyn de Worde, Caxton’s successor as book publisher in London, issued a translation by Henry Watson of the Franco-Burgundian romance L'Istoire d'olivier de castille. The romance had already enjoyed great popularity on the Continent, having been printed first in French in 1482, in Spanish in 1499, in Flemish c. 1510 and in German in 1521.^ An Italian edition would follow in 1552. And another English version, this time translated from the Italian, appeared in 1695. Here an English translated version.
This book examines the evolution of the Foreign Office in the 20th century and the way in which it has responded to Britain's changing role in international affairs. The last century was one of unprecedented change in the way foreign policy and diplomacy were conducted. The work of 'The Office' expanded enormously in the 20th century, and oversaw the transition from Empire to Commonwealth, with the merger of the Foreign and Colonial Offices taking place in the 1960s. The book focuses on the challenges posed by waging world war and the process of peacemaking, as well as the diplomatic gridlock of the Cold War. Contributions also discusses ways in which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to modernise to meet the challenges of diplomacy in the 21st century. This book was previously published as a special issue of the journal Contemporary British History.
