Nicholson , Thomas Tanner, Ltd, Dispensing Chemists, London, NW1

The Library accessions register describes the purchase as the contents of Nicholson's shop at 125 Hampstead Road, London NW 1. Originally taken into the Western Manuscripts Department, the collection was given the reference numbers MSS 5881-5908, but in October 1980 it was transferred to the newly-founded Contemporary Medical Archives Centre. The earliest item, a collection of medical and other receipts in Latin and English (130pp, c 1870) was found to be missing, as was a register of poisons sales (3 March 1960 - 15 October 1963). Remaining are prescription books, ledgers, memorandum books, day books, diaries and registers of poison sales, of Nicholson's and of predecessor firms, dating from 1893 to 1960.