The accession is comprised of business books and book files. Also included are woodblocks for William Robinson’s 'The English Flower Garden'.

The business books continue in part those held in the first parthase of John Murray Archive (MSS.41896-41999, MSS.42632-43011). They include wet-press letter books, manuscript books, production expenses books, copies ledgers, commission books and private ledgers.

The book files reflect the changing practices of the business by storing as a unit all of the papers concerning a particular publication. Therefore, correspondence, agreements, papers concerning copyright, book design information, book production records, opinions and reviews of a work, and sales information are held together for the work.