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The International Congress of Orientalists, initiated in Paris in 1873, was an international conference of Orientalists. It was later renamed as the International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa and then as the International Congress of Asian and North African Studies. This material covers the interaction of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Congress in the time period 1889 to 1993.

The Fifth International Congress of Linguists took place in Brussels from 28 August to 2 September 1939. This material contains correspondence and printed material connected to this Congress. These are:

• First Circular for the Fifth International Congress of Linguists giving details of the Conference and the topics to be addressed. Written in French, dated 20 October 1938.
• Postcard from H.W. Bailey to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him that Bailey was intending to attend the Congress. Handwritten, dated 12 January 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, International Congress of Linguists, to inform him that Professor H.W. Bailey will represent the Society at the Congress. Typed, dated 26 January 1939.

The International Congress of Libraries and Documentation Centres was held in Brussels from the 11-18 September 1955. It included the Third International Congress of Libraries, the Fourth Congress of Music Libraries, and the Twenty-Second International Conference of Documentation. This material consists of the printed pamphlet entitled "Notice No. 1, September 1954", giving details of the Organizing Committees, the History and Aims of the Congress, the Programmes for the Congress etc. The material is printed in English and French.

Three items connected with the International Congress of Geography in Warsaw held on the 25-31 August 1934 under the auspices of the International Geographical Union. These are:

• First Circular for the International Congress with a letter from Stanislaw Pawlowski, General Secretary, and Eugenjusz Romer, inviting participants to the Congress. The circular also covers Terms of the Congress, the Themes of the Meetings, and Excursions. A handwritten annotation notes "Resolved on 12.10.33 not to nominate a representative".
• Bulletin D'Adhésion for the Congress for becoming a Member of the Congress, taking part in the discussion, and taking part in the excursions. Printed in French.
• Second Circular for the International Congress giving further information about the Congress, the subjects for discussion and the excursions.

Correspondence and official documentation concerned with International Congresses of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences and the association of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Congresses.

'Instructions of the Chinese Government to the Merchants trading with the Russians'. The document was communicated to Sir George Staunton by James Brogden Esq., M.P. who received it from Russia. Staunton then presented it to the Royal Asiatic Society and it was read at the General Meeting on 20 December 1823. it is listed in the Society's Catalogue of English Manuscripts as IV. No.2 and according to the description on p.64 of the catalogue, the document is:

"Secret Instructions of the Great Empire of China to the Company of Traders of the interior Provinces trading to Kiachta (Kyakhta) with the Russians confirmed by the Emperor on the 5th day of the 3rd moon of the 57th year of his reign...

"This paper (which was given to Sir George Staunton by Mr Brogden, who received it from Russia) contains twenty four regulations for the government of the trade carried on at Kiachta (Kyakhta) between the Russians and Chinese.

"The first rule recommends harmony among the merchants to prevent the foreigners getting the advantage.

"The second directs that each merchant shall communicate the information he received to the head of the company, that general instructions may be issued for the guidance of the whole body.

"The third to eleventh principally contain hints for keeping down the prices of the Russian traders, and enabling the Chinese to sell at higher rates in proportion.

The twelfth to the sixteenth relate to the conduct of the Chinese Merchants in their intercourse with the Russians, and the remainder detail the punishments (generally severe) to be inflicted on those who are guilty of infraction of the preceding ordinances."

With the actual document is a cover sheet with the title and details of its presentation; also a label identifying the document as IV No.2 in the Catalogue of English Manuscripts.

In 1938, l'Institut d'Histoire de l'Émigration Politique Contemporaine celebrated the 750th anniversary of the death of the Georgian poet, Chota Roustaveli. This correspondence and printed material are in connection with that celebration. They are:

• Letter from The President, Institut d'Histoire de l'Emigration Politique Contemporaine, to the Royal Asiatic Society to inform them of the celebration, of the Organising Committee, and of associated names and activities. He asks if the Society will consent to send a representative. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 29 January 1938.
• "Institut d'Histoire de l'Émigration Politique Contemporaine" - printed pamphlet concerning the Committees of the Society and its activities.
• Letter from Royal Asiatic Society to l'Institut d'Histoire de l'Émigration Politique Contemporaine to state that Sir Oliver Wardrop would be the Society's representative upon the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the death of the Georgian Poet, Chola Roustaveli. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 18 February 1938.
• Postcard from Sir Oliver Wardrop to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that the ceremony has been postponed until 30 March 1938. Handwritten, dated 20 February 1938.

Rubbings of 8 inscriptions made by Archibald Campbell Carlleyle from an ancient temple which he calls Uncha Pahar. He visited this in January 1872 as part of the Archaeological Survey of India. Each of these are labelled, signed by Carlleyle, and dated January 1872:

• Ornament, and inscription at the bottom of the octagonal lower portion of the shaft of the unique round pillar in the pillared vestibule in front of the "Sanctum" of the ancient ruined temple, "Uncha Pahar".
• Inscription in entrance of vestibule, of ancient ruined temple "Uncha Pahar".
• Inscription on a pillar at left side of doorway of "Sanctum" of ancient ruined temple "Uncha Pahar".
• Inscription in two lines on a stone leaning against a wall below the old temple "Uncha Pahar".
• No. 10 Inscription Above first statue on the left hand "Santum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
• No. 13 Above central statue of "Agni" in "Sanctum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
• No. 15 Inscription Above central statue on Right hand wall In "Sanctum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
• On stone bench at the right side in entrance to Vestibule of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".

In 1934, a vase was unearthed in excavations at Tell ed-Duweir (Tell Lachish) in an expedition led by James Leslie Starkey. Theodor Gaster undertook to decipher the inscription on the vase, but before his decipherment was announced in The Times Newspaper the decipherment had been attributed to another. The items that comprise this collection are:

• Letter from Theodor Gaster to Colonel Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to lodge with him a 'lettre cachée' with his decipherment of the new script found on the vase. He claimed that he had originally communicated the decipherment to James Starkey but had suppressed its publication until the discovery of the ewer had been announced in The Times. However, in that time, another had been attributed with the decipherment. He was therefore sending a copy of his letter to Starkey, as proof of his claim, to both the Royal Asiatic Society and the Palestine Exploration Fund. With the letter is his copy of the decipherment and an envelope labelled 'Lettre cachée deposited with the R.A.S. by Theodor Gaster on 12.6.34'.
• "Discovery at Tell Duweir: Identification of the Characters" - letter to the Editor printed in The Times, 12 June 1934, written by Theodor Gaster.
• "Discovery at Tell Duweir: Early Alphabets" - letter to the Editor printed in The Times, 13 June 1934, written by Alan H. Gardiner disputing the decipherment.
• "Discovery at Tell Duweir: A Translation of the Inscription" - letter to the Editor printed in The Times, dated 20 June 1934, written by F. Melian Stawell to add her contribution to the decipherment.

A facsimile of a monumental inscription at the Fa-hsing Temple, Canton (Guangzhou), acquired by Sir John Bowring, whilst Governor of Hong Kong. The facsimile measures 155cm x 90cm and is black ink on white paper, probably created from a squeeze impression. It is in fragile condition, with some previous repairs.

With the inscription is a translation, made by J. Gibson, entitled "Renovation of the monumental Inscription of the Buddhist Gods", dated 14 October 1858. This is handwritten in ink with further annotations in both ink and pencil to give further details regarding dates and allusions.