Materials are in a variety of formats. They are arranged into four sequences based on the primary subject or format of the materials: ‘Booklets in foreign languages’, ‘Materials relating to competitions centred around Ian Rankin’, ‘Literary criticism’, and ‘Other’. Under each sequence the entries are arranged chronologically.

Booklets in foreign languages regarding the reputation of Ian Rankin. Folios 1-54.

Booklet, 2000, 'Il Mondo Di Ian Rankin', consisting largely of an interview with Ian Rankin, and a short biography of Rankin (in Italian). Folios 1-14.

Booklet, 2007, ‘Die Welt des Ian Rankin’, containing an interview with Ian Rankin and information on the Rebus novels (in German). Folios 15-26.

Booklet, undated, ‘The Black Booklet’, including an interview with Ian Rankin and an introduction of his life and works, written by Chingyen Joe Chen (in Chinese). Includes letter from Chingyen Joe Chen to Rankin. Folios 27-54.

Materials relating to competitions centred around Ian Rankin and/or his works. Folios 55-60.

Photocopy, 2001, of an advertisement for a competition in Canada to win a trip for two to Edinburgh and go on a tour led by Ian Rankin (with second prize winners receiving copies of Rebus television videos). Includes photocopy of fax to Rankin from Sherie Hodds of McArthur [and] Company and photocopy of bestseller list from ‘The Globe and Mail’, Toronto, featuring Rankin’s novel ‘The Falls’. Folios 55-57.

Proof, 2001, of an advertisement for the WHSmith ‘Raw Talent’ competition, featuring a quote from Ian Rankin’s novel ‘Knots and Crosses’. Folio 58.

Photocopy, 5 August 2007, of an advertisement in ‘Scotland on Sunday’ for a competition to win cases of ‘Rebus 20’ beer and meet Ian Rankin. Folio 59. Also see MS.50552, Folio 13b, for an advertisement to guess the secret ingredient in Rebus 20 beer.

Ticket, 2008, for the Oxford Bar Raffle in Aid of SNIP, with the prize of a ‘Rebus 20’ Limited Edition Highland Park Malt Whisky Casket signed by Ian Rankin. Folio 60.

Literary criticism of Ian Rankin’s works. Folios 61-149.

Typescript, ‘The Curious Case of the Neglected Scottish Novelist’ by David Stenhouse, for an unidentified periodical. Folios 61-64.

Typescript, c.2008, 'Whither Scotland?: Ian Rankin's Set in Darkness and Exit Music', by Laura Severik, draft manuscript of article submitted to the ‘International Journal of Scottish Literature and Theory’. Folios 65-81.

Dissertation, 2012, 'Ian Rankin's Rebus Novels: Edinburgh Gothic for the Twenty-First Century?', by Holly Helen Mary Coy, submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of Humanities. Folios 82-134.

Article, 2012, 'Inappropriate inspectors: Impoliteness and overpoliteness in Ian Rankin's and Andrea Camilleri's crime series', by Annick Paternoster, printed from Sage online. Folios 135-149.

Other materials relating to the reputation of Ian Rankin. Folios 150-157.

List, 2000, of the languages into which Ian Rankin's novels have been translated. Folio 150-152.

Card, 2012, advertising the 'Discover Ian Rankin's Edinburgh' mobile phone application. Folio 153.

Stickers, 2014, produced by ITW (International Thriller Writers) Organisation featuring signatures of thriller writers including Ian Rankin. Folios 154-156.

Photograph of 'Wolfman' graffiti in Tottenham underpass, undated, annotated by Ian Rankin. Folio 157.