Search FNL grants since 1931

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826) was of great significance both as a colonial administrator and as a ascientific collector. He founded the modern day Singapore in 1819 and the Zoological Society of London in 1826.

The John Murray Archive is one of the world's most significant literary and cultural archives. With more than 150,000 items, it contains letters, manuscripts and journals from some of the greatest writers, politicians and scientists from 1768 to 1920. Edinburgh-born publisher John Murray started the collection when he set up his business in London in the late 18th century. The archive contains original MSS of works by Murray authors and extensive files of correspondence, letters and journals. Authors include Lord Byron, David Livingstone, Charles Darwin and Jane Austen.

Mesens was a Belgian gallery director, curator, editor, publisher, musician, poet and artist. From 1936 until his death, Mesens was based in London where he was co-founder and partner with Roland Penrose of the London Gallery. He played a central part in Surrealism in Britain.

Twenty-eight letters from Clive Bell to his mistress Bertha 'Lalage' Penrose containing much information about Bell himself, and illuminating Bloomsbury's relations with the French cultural world.

Seven letters, two by Sir Robert Sale and five by his wife from 1842, which relate to the First Afghan War and the First Anglo-Sikh War.

Notes written by Rosina Bulwer Lytton, estranged wife of Sir Edward Lytton, on 72 empty envelopes. The notes include trenchant personal commetns on a variety of subjects and persons, including her husband, 'that Ruffianly Blackguard Sir Liar Coward Bulwer Lytton'.

A lavishly illuminated Hours of the Passion, Paris, 15th cent. The manuscript is possibly a part of a Book of Hours now in the Huntington Library, San Marino.

Harold Pinter's entire extant archive of playscripts and film scripts. The archive joins Pinter's correspondence in the British Library, purchased in 2006.

The accounts ledger of William Hodgkinson of Overton Hall, Ashover, lead merchant, c. 1668-1700. A record of great rarity, whose export was delayed by the Reviewing Committee on the export of Works of Art to enable its purchase by a British institution.

Seven pen and ink architectural drawings for the new Penzance Union Workhouse in Madron, 1839, with detailed notes on dimensions, fittings and furniture. Signed by G. G. Scott and W(illiam) B(onython) Moffatt , with whom Scott was in partnership, 1838-45, at 20 Spring Gardens, London.