The Manuscripts of the Duke of Beaufort, K.G., the Earl of Donoughmore, and Others. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (Twelfth report: Appendix. Part IX)
London: Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1891. First edition. Hardcover. Short quarto. 640 pp. Green cloth with gold lettering inside black border on spine. Scuffing to spine and exterior, otherwise book is in good condition. g. Item #21285
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (abbreviated as the HMC) was established in 1869 "to make enquiry as to the places where manuscripts and private papers of historical interest were located and to report on their contents". The HMC's offices were located at Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, close to the old Public Record Office. The general public were able to visit Quality House during regular office hours to use the National Register of Archives, a computer database of archival references drawn from catalogues and published lists of manuscripts, useful for the study of British history, held in private hands and repositories in both the UK and overseas. In April 2003 the Keeper of Public Records became the sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner. The chief executive of the National Archives is now Keeper of Public Records and Commissioner of Historical Manuscripts.
Price: $150.00