The letters are to John Murray IV and Hallam Murray. They reveal the very close friendship that existed between Arthur Bigge and John Murray IV. They also provide an insight into the workings of the royal court through the letters of a prominent courtier.

The letters concern both business matters - requests by Murray to be allowed to publish works concerning the royal family, or to be allowed to dedicate works to particular members of the family - and social interests.

Included with some of the letters is a wet-press copy of John Murray IV’s reply.

The letters are arranged chronologically.

1878: folios 1-2 [Note 1];

1895-1896, 1898-1899: folios 3-31;

1900, 1902-1904, 1906-1909: folios 32-65;

1910-1912, 1914-1918: folios 66-101 [Note 2];

1920-1927: folios 102-141 [Note 3].

Disassociated envelope. Folio 142.

Notes.

[Note 1.] Folios 1-2. Letter, 20 May 1878, of Arthur Bigge to Marion Murray.

[Note 2.] Folio 82. Wet-press copy of a letter, 9 October 1912, of John Murray IV to Charles Lyttleton.

[Note 3.] Folios 130-131. Wet-press copy of a letter, 12 May 1926, of John Murray IV to Arthur Shipley.