The main item in these papers is the Letter Book, complied by Richard Macan concerned with the sale of the estate of the late Major Turner Macan. There is also a note written by Richard Macan and some modern research notes on the Letter Book and Turner Macan's biography.
Turner MacanThe material within this collection comprises of correspondence and publications by and about Richard Francis Burton and his wife Isabel Burton (nee Arundell). There are also two photographs of Burton and artefacts.
Also included within this Collection are correspondence concerning the acquisition of the material by the RAS and some supplementary material regarding Oscar Eckenstein, its original collector.
Richard Francis BurtonThe papers consist of correspondence mainly concerned with Pankhurst's interest and research into Ethiopia, a small amount of printed material, photographs, and Abstracts and Papers from the First International Conference on the History of Ethiopian Art which was convened by Pankhurst in 1986.
Pankhurst, Richard Keir PethickLeather-bound manuscript entitled ‘Extracts of a Journal of a Voyage to the East Indies and return to England, Annis Domini 1817 and, 1818 in a merchant ship of the H. E. I. C. [Honourable East India Company]’. The manuscript documents the encounters of the writer, Robert Millar, an assistant surgeon aboard the East India Company ship Princess Charlotte of Wales, in his journey through Madras, Calcutta and St Helena. In the preliminaries the writer writes that he has copied out this manuscript form his notebook for the perusal of his sister, Anne. Includes a printed map of Bengal, 'projected by C. A. 1810', an illustration of an adjutant described by the locals and an annotated diagram of the canoe vessel used by the natives.
With Sir Cyril Walter Gurner's bookplate on the inside pastedown. A typescript note on the flyleaf, dated January 1957 and signed by Gurner, shows that the manuscript was purchased by the late L. S. S. O'Malley Esq., Indian Civil Service, in Norwich, and came into Gurner's possession when O'Malley left for Calcutta.
Robert Millar"Unpublished Description of Bootan, by Samuel Davis Esq. F.R.S., 1783". An account of his findings in Bhutan when Warren Hastings assigned him as Draftsman and Surveyor on Samuel Turner's Mission to Bhutan and Tibet. Davis was unable to enter Tibet with the others and so spent his time making drawings and notes of Bhutan. The account covers topics such as landscape and cultivation as well as Davis' interactions with the Rajah.
Leather bound handwritten journal, 38cm x24cm, the cover boards are loose from the spine. 119 written pages.
Samuel DavisThese papers were collated by Saroj Nalini Arambam and John Parratt in their research of the area of Manipur, India. They include original and copied manuscripts in Meetei Mayek and Bengali scripts, and offprints and copies of articles on Manipur.
Saroj Nalini Arambam"Bibliography of Persia", Small notebook containing correspondence and newspaper cuttings regarding the publication of "A Bibliography of Persia" by Arnold Wilson in 1930. The items within this notebook are:
- Letter from Arnold Wilson to the Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to donate the notebook to the Library, dated 11 September 1938
- Review of Wilson's "A Bibliography of Persia", by Wolseley Haig from Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Jan 1935, p.195
- Newspaper cutting from The Times for a review of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 11 September 1930
- Cutting from Nature for a review of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 4 October 1930
- Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Journal of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, September 1930
- Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Geographical Journal, dated September 1930
- Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Journal of the Central Asian Society, dated September 1930
- Newspaper cutting from Near East and India with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 24 July 1930
- Letter from [H B Hzalso Erds] to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 7 August 1930
- Letter from H.R. Hall to Wilson to send his apologies for not being able to the attend the Mesopotamian Force dinner and to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 28 June 1930
- Newspaper cutting from The Times with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 27 June 1930
- Letter from Hamilton Gibb to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 23 June 1930
- Letter from David Lorimer to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to give his opinion on the book, dated 26 June 1930
- Letter from Vladimir Minorsky to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to congratulate him on its publication, dated 20 June 1930
- Postcard from W. [Northold] to Wilson to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 15 August 1930
- Letter from Henry W. Mardon to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 16 June 1930
- Letter from D.S. Margoliouth to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 14 June 1930
- Newspaper cutting from The Times with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 11 September 1930
- Review for Wilson's "A Bibliography of Persia" by Hamilton A.R. Gibb, un-named and undated publication
- Letter to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to enclose lists of references that might also be included in a future copy. The signature of the writer is illegible. The 2 sheets are pasted into the notebook on previous pages to the letter
- Letter from [E Ekunter] to Wilson concerning an entry in "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 27 November 1930
- Copy of a letter from Mirza Mohammed Khan Nabavi, the Persian Chargé d'Affaires to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 28 July 1930
- Letter from [Namey] to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 26 July 1930
This notebook is in poor condition and has evidence of previous mould problem. Therefore care must be taken in handling it.
Sir Arnold Talbot WilsonThis small collection consists of seven certificates of membership of organisations or Honorary conferment of degrees. Thus:
- Certificate of Honorary Membership of Die Geographische Gesellschaft in Munchen, 1909
- Confirmation of Degree of Doctor of Science, Cambridge, 1910
- Certificate of Honorary Membership of Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 1910
- Certificate of Membership of Anthropologische Gesellschaft, 1911
- Certificate for Doctor of Philosophy from University of Tubingen, 1933
- Certificate on becoming Honorary Doctor of Law of St. Andrews University, 1939
- Certificate of Membership of American Philosophical Society, 1939
- Photograph of the engraving of Aurel Stein created by M. Howard in 1946. The engraving forms part of the Society's art collections (RAS Cat. 095.012)
A series of letters sent from Mauritius concerning the setting up of an astronomy observatory. Dated from 1829-1831. Also a copy of the Mauritius Gazette, Saturday 20th June 1829 containing an article on astronomy.
Sir Charles ColvilleThe collection spans Henry Miers Elliot's career working for the Indian Civil Service from 1827 to 1853, and includes:
- Manuscripts mainly concerned with administration. These are in English and local Indian languages.
- Correspondence to Henry Miers Elliot
- Printed Material
- Visual Material, including copper-plate rubbings, agricultural drawings and a map of Baiswara.
Some of the material had previously been identified by Professor Simon Digby, Honorary Librarian to the Royal Asiatic Society (1970-1984). The information provided by him has been kept with the Henry Miers Elliot Papers.
Henry Miers Elliot