George and the dragon from BL YT 3, f. 274v

Detail of a miniature of George and the dragon, at the beginning of his suffrage; in the margin above, a princess kneels before George, with a castle behind her. Image taken from f. 274v of Book of Hours, Use of Rome ('The Dunois Hours'). Written in Latin, with a French calendar.

Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who assembled this remarkable collection over his lifetime. The collection is now housed at the British Library in London.

Henry Yates Thompson was born into a wealthy family in 1838. Thompson began collecting manuscripts and other items in the 1870s. His collection quickly gained recognition for its exceptional quality and breadth. He had a keen eye for illuminated manuscripts, which are manuscripts decorated with intricate illustrations and calligraphy. The collection has a particular emphasis on medieval manuscripts.