"Autograph Book belonging to Susan Hodgson, Alderley Grange, Wotton under Edge" A leather bound autograph book belonging to Hodgson's wife, Susan, in which are placed certificates, diplomas, academic and personal correspondence, newspaper cuttings and extracts related to Brian Houghton Hodgson's life. Leather binding with metal clasp. The book's binding is broken and some pages are loose. Care must be taken when using this item.

Letter from Christian Lassen to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he thanks Hodgson for sending his papers on Vayu and Kiranti tribes of the Himalayas and for lending the selections from Hodgson's reports printed by order of the Government of Bengal. They had been directed back to Hodgson at his address in Darjeeling, but by that time Hodgson had already left Darjeeling and the papers were returned again to Lassen's address in Bonn. Lassen expresses his appreciation of Hodgson's contribution to the promotion of knowledge of Buddhism, geography, zoology and ethnology of Tibet and the Central and Eastern Himalaya and also for his more recent work on the languages of sub-Himalayan tribes. Includes Hodgson's title note with receipt and reply dates. With original envelope with postal stamps. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 20 November 1860.

Hodgson used much of his time in both Nepal and Darjeeling in research, wanting to discover and understand about the architecture, languages, ethnography, religion, zoology and botany. He collected specimens and manuscripts, and had many drawings made, which he donated to many collections throughout Europe. He was also politically involved during his Residency in Nepal, and also later in England, when he continued to show an active interest in the Indian subcontinent, particularly regarding trade and vernacular education. These Personal Papers reflect these interests and are a record of much of his activity - Hodgson and his wives seemed to have a need to record all his successes. He was also a keen annotator of material, so that most of the printed material also bears his handwritten comments.