Private letters, manuscripts and business papers from the archives of one of the Victorian era’s most influential publishing empires went on public display in Edinburgh today, writes Laura Smith.

The collection of papers from the family-owned publishers John Murray, which boasted Charles Darwin, Jane Austen and Lord Byron among its authors, was launched at the National Library of Scotland by Michael Palin.

John Murray, a descendant of the first John Murray who set up the company in 1768, sold the collection of 150,000 documents to the library for £31m earlier this year. He is the seventh generation of Murrays to run the publishing firm.

The exhibition uses interactive technology to showcase 11 main characters from the archive, including legends like Darwin and Byron and less well-known but significant figures. Members of the public will be able to see the letter in which Darwin pitched the idea for his Origin of Species.

Among the lesser-known authors to feature is Maria Rundell, whose best-selling book on cookery, medicinal remedies and household management caused a publishing sensation in the early 1800s and became a bible for Britain’s 19th century bourgeoisie. Mary Somerville, who was known as the ‘Queen of Science’ and was one of Murray’s most successful scientific writers, also features.

Martyn Wade, National Library of Scotland librarian, told the BBC: “It is wonderful to see the results of several years’ hard work from a large number of very talented and committed people coming to fruition in the form of this exhibition.” Palin described the collection as a “goldmine”.

The library used a combination of lottery money, funding from the Scottish Executive and its own fundraising to buy the John Murray Archive from 1768 to 1920. John Murray is now owned by Hodder Headline publishers.

Link to John Murray Archive:
http://www.nls.uk/jma/index.html