This book, first published in 1946, provides a summary account, historical and descriptive, which is full enough to be useful for reference and information, and at the same time to bring out the true significance of the collections of the British Museum Library and of the tale of their gathering.

Arundell Esdaile

Part 1. Historical 1.The Foundation 2. Montagu House and the First Fifty Years 3. New Wine and an Old Bottle 4. Two Public Enquiries: Growth and Dissension (1835-50) 5. The Reading Room and the Iron Library: Panizzi, Principal Librarian (1851-66) 6. Interlude: Winter Jones, Principal Librarian (1866-79) 7. Bond, Principal Librarian: Printing the General Catalogue (1979-88) 8. Maunde Thompson, Director and Principal Librarian (1888-1911) 9. The Last Thirty Years Part 2. The Collections and their Catalogues 10. The Printed Books 11. The Manuscripts 12. The Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts