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Archival description
GB 891 SC25 · Fonds · 1854 - 1880

An English translation of "Entwurf einer Grammatik der Herero Sprache", the work by Karl Hugo Hahn, that was supposed to be undertaken with the linguist Wilhelm Bleek. As this was not possible, due to circumstances, Hahn delivered his own version of the book to Riga in 1854. It is the first grammar of the Herero language spoken by the Herero people in Southern Africa.

The manuscript of 208 pages is heavily corrected and the translator is not identified. There is a note on a torn piece of paper which states "Presented ... Sir Bartle Frere K.G.C.B., C.S.I. by the Translator, Cape Town, January 19th 1880.

Hahn Karl Hugo 1818-1895
GB 891 SC29 · Fonds · 1742 - 1874

Documents of Marathi history dating to the eighteenth and nineteenth century presented to the Royal Asiatic Society by Sir Alexander Malet in 1828 and by General John Briggs in 1874. The papers donated by Briggs are predominantly correspondence from the Peshwa Court at the time of Nana Fadnavis and were given by Nana Fadnavis' widow to Briggs in 1825. Those from Malet were collected by his father, Sir Charles Warre Malet, during his political career in India and are predominantly handwritten accounts of Marathi history.

Each of the documents also has a description provided by Simon Digby when Honorary Librarian at the Royal Asiatic Society from 1970. The documents written in Marathi are in modi script.

Sir Alexander Malet
GB 891 OS6 · Fonds · [1950]

Copy of a letter of congratulations from the Royal Asiatic Society to École Française d'Extrême-Orient on the celebration of its Jubilee. The letter expresses admiration for the the scholarly research on south-east Asia under a succession of brilliant Directors. It is undated.

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
GB 891 SC39 · Fonds · [1800 - 1899]

A series of discourses on Muslim doctrine and ethics, said at its beginning to be the Kalām of Murtada (Murtaza) Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib which has been translated from a Persian rendering of the original Arabic into a dialect of "Western Hindustani" in a variety of the Khojki Sindh script. This information is obtained from a typed note which has been pasted into the volume and signed by Lionel David Barnett, dated March 1931.

Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib
GB 891 SC32 · Fonds · 1745 - 1795

"Diccionario Grandonico Malabar Portvguez" - a dictionary of Malayalam and Sanskrit words written in Malayalam script, explained in Portugese. The title page is printed and dates the book to Verapoly, 1745. A Malayalam and English inscription on the title page states that the book was purchased by Lieut. M.S. Osbourne from J. de Santos, Sheristadar, of Tellicherry Adaulatt, in 1795. The volume is bound with marbled cover. The front board is loose from the spine. With the book is a typed label with an identifying description.

H. S. Osbourne
GB 891 SC11 · Fonds · 1939 - 1954

A copy of the "Order of the Coronation of His Highness Sir Hisamud-din Alam Shah, K.C.M.G., Sultan of Selangor'. The printed pamphlet gives details of the order of events from 25-28 January 1939 with a full description of the Order of the Ceremony of the Crowning. Written in English and Malay in Arabic script.

With the programme is a letter from W.O. Skeat to Sir Richard Winstedt, dated 5 October 1954, in which he writes that Dr. Laidlaw found it difficult to decide whether to give the programme to the Royal Asiatic Society or the British Museum. Skeat was asked his preference and he favoured the Royal Asiatic Society, so it was therefore to be considered the Society's possession.

Hisamuddin Alam Shah sultan de Selangor
GB 891 SC57 · Fonds · 2018

Four rubbings of the inscription on the Nestorian (Xi'an) Stele, China. This Tang Chinese stele, erected in 781, documents 150 years of early Christianity in China. It is a limestone block 279 centimetres (9 ft 2 in) high with text in both Chinese and Syriac describing the existence of Christian communities in several cities in northern China. The four rubbings are of:

  • Heading - 40 x 40 cm
  • Facing front side - 200 x 90 cm
  • Left side thickness of the stone - 200 x 30 cm
  • Right side thickness of the stone - 200 x 30 cm

With the rubbings is an explanation of them sent by Jacob Ghazarian.

Ghazarian, Jacob
GB 891 SC58 · Fonds · 1880-1972

A copy of the inscription from a late-19th century stone tablet in Baidicheng, an ancient fortress and temple complex on an islet in the Yangzi River near Fengjie town in Sichuan, China. The original tablet depicts a pair of phoenixes amongst peonies, overshadowed by a wutong tree, with inscription near the picture. The inscription tells how Baidicheng, literally meaning White Emperor City, was founded by the first-century general Gongsun Shu and named after the dragon-like swirls of white mist which gathered about a well there. It also recalls how Bao Chao [鮑超], retreated to Baidicheng and practised calligraphy. Bao Chao is also identified as the creator of the picture of the tablet.

The copy of the inscription is on tracing paper and is a copy of the complete inscription but none of the surrounding image.

The original envelope in which it was found has been kept with the inscription. Addressed to the Librarian of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society it has been annotated by hand with details of the book in which the inscription was found and dating this discovery to 12 September 1972.

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
GB 891 SC40 · Fonds · [1840 - 1858]

Copies, transcripts and translations of Indian stone and copperplate inscriptions made by George Legrand Jacob. Each inscription is labelled as to its location. These include: Edicts of Ashoka, and other inscriptions, Junagadh, Girnar Hills. Inscription on a copperplate dug up near the Machchhu River, Gujarat. Inscriptions from the "Geernan" Temple. Inscription from a black marble slab in an old well within Mangrol. Inscriptions at the Somnath Temple, Prabhas Patan. Inscriptions from temple at "Billawal". Inscription taken from the [Tulao of Ooua]. Inscriptions on copper plate dug at [Neroor] in he Korodal Division of the [Sawunt Waree] State. April 1848 with transcriptions in Balbodhy and translation into English.

These are contained within a bound volume with red leather covering. Please note the frond board has come away from the spine.

Sir George Le Grand Jacob
GB 891 SC59 · Fonds · 1837-1839

A set of handwritten copies of Sanskrit inscriptions and some English translations. These include:

  • 'Translation of an inscription found in one of the Palitana Temples of Kattywar (Kathiawar) by Capt. Geo. LeGrand Jacob 1937'. This is the title on a handwritten small blue label. Under the title is written 'Not worth printing, HHW' (Horace Hayman Wilson). The document itself consists of 8 sides - 4 of these are of the translation of the inscription on stone, signed by Jacob and dated 6 February 1837. Under the translation is a further note in a different hand about the lack of historical value of this inscription. The following 3 pages give notes regarding the inscription, again signed by Jacob and dated 24 February 1837. The final page is headed 'Private note' which suggests if published the writer rather than the Society takes responsibility for the content. This is signed J.W.
  • 'Inscription on the most ancient of the Jain Temples at Palitana in Kattywar bearing dates of [Samoat] 1582 for the foundation and 1587 for the completion'. This is signed by George LeGrand Jacob, Government Political Agent, Kattywar. This is a lengthy handwritten inscription in Sanskrit, possible the Sanskrit version of the translation above.
  • 'Sanskrit rendering of Copperplate Inscription found near Palitana in Kattywar (Kathiawar) deciphered by J. Prinsep' with further note 'NB. The plate is incomplete only one leaf of the tablet having been found'. A handwritten copy in Sanskrit of the inscription.
  • 'Translation by Mr J. Prinsep, Sec. of Calcutta As. Soc., of Copper tablet inscription found near the Hill of Palitane in Kattywar' A single sheet of English translation. Further writing on the reverse of the translation indicate it was received by the Royal Asiatic Society in November 1839 and read at their General Meeting on 7 November 1839.
  • Four short Sanskrit inscriptions numbered 1-4 in English numerals and titled '[Biluspoor] (Bilaspur?) near Kutah and indicating they are family documents.
  • A single sheet of a Sanskrit inscription labelled '[Chundrabhagu]'.
  • A large sheet of Sanskrit writing with illegible title in English but probably bearing the number 1216.
  • A large sheet with what appears to be a genealogical table in Sanskrit with accompanying. English translation. The sheet also bears Sanskrit phrases with English translation.
Prinsep James 1799-1840 Secretary, Asiatic Society of Bengal