Tracking the market in manuscripts | The National Archives blog
Most archive services acquire new material for their collections and make them available to researchers through longstanding arrangements, very often by transfer from their governing body, or by deposit from businesses, families, organisations and individuals.
However, manuscripts and archival collections do come up for sale. This is sometimes through specialist auctioneers and dealers, but increasingly through non-specialist antique dealers and amateur sellers, almost always online. When important documents are put up for auction how can we help ensure that they go to the right archive service – somewhere where they can be seen in context alongside other, similar material and where researchers will be able to access and enjoy it?
Continue reading: Tracking the market in manuscripts | The National Archives blog
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