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The George Staunton Prize was initiated in 2007 for an article by a young scholar working on topics related to the history, archaeology, literature, language, religion, anthropology and art of Asia. A 'young scholar' was defined as someone in the process of completing their PhD or someone who has been awarded their doctorate within the previous five years. Award winning submissions were published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society and the winners received a prize of £250. Since its initiation the Prize has been awarded irregularly. Winners include:

• 2007- Nile Green for the article, ‘Jack Sepoy and the Dervishes: Islam and the Indian Soldier in Princely India’.
• 2008 - S.P. Ong for the article, 'Jurisdictional Politics in Canton and the First English Translation of the Qing Penal Code (1810)'.
• 2010 - joint winners: Felicia Yap for 'Eurasians in British Asia during the Second World War' and Martin Worthington for 'On Names and Artistic Unity in the Standard Version of the Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic'.
• 2014 - Dr Fozia Bora for her article, 'Did Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Destroy the Fatimids' Books? Historiographical Enquiry'.
• 2023 - Dr Kelsey Granger for her article, 'From Tomb-Keeper to Tomb-Occupant: The Changing Conceptualisation of Dogs in Early China'.

There is limited archival material at this stage but it contains:

2007

• One letter to enter an article for the prize, dated 26 May 2007.
• Official letter from Charlotte de Blois, Executive Editor, Royal Asiatic Society, to Nile Green to inform that he has been awarded the prize. Digital document, dated 30 May 2008.
• Copies of emails between Nile Green, Charlotte de Blois and Sarah Ansari, Honorary Editor, concerning receiving the prize, Typed, 1 piece, dated 2 May 2008.

2008

• One letter to enter an article for the prize, dated 28 May 2008.
• Copies of emails between Charlotte de Blois and Sujit Sivasundaram concerning assessment of entered essays. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 1 July - 14 November 2008.

2010

• Two letters to enter an article for the prize, dated 15 and 27 October 2010.

2011

• Two letters to enter an article for the prize, undated.
• Advertisement for submissions for both the Professor Mary Boyce Prize and the Sir George Staunton Prize.

2014

• 'Staunton Submissions' - list of candidates and their referees. Digital document, undated.
• 'Staunton Opinions' - summary of opinions of the judges for the articles submitted. Digital document, undated.

2015

• Advertisement for the Sir George Staunton Prize, articles to be submitted before 31 December 2015.

The Royal Asiatic Society initiated the Professor Mary Boyce Prize for articles relating to the study of religion in Asia. Award winning submissions receive £250 and are published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. The focus of the prize is any religion, anywhere in Asia and at any time, and the Society’s main aim is to encourage the submission of pieces of original, unpublished research that make innovative contributions to understanding, learning and scholarship.
Since its initiation the Prize has been awarded irregularly. Winners include:
2007 - Julius N, Tsai for the article, Reading the ‘Inner Biography of the Perfected Person of Purple Solarity’: Religion and Society in an Early Daoist Hagiography.
2009 - Alexander Wynne for the article, The Buddha's ‘skill in means’ and the genesis of the five aggregate teaching.

There is limited archival material at this stage but it contains:

2007

• Judge's comment upon submissions for the Prize, electronic document.

2008

• Draft publicity poster for the Professor Mary Boyce Prize and the George Staunton Prize, electronic document.

2009

• Copies of emails between Charlotte de Blois, Executive Editor, Royal Asiatic Society, and Alexander Wynne, winner, Professor Mary Boyce Prize concerning his entry and award. Two pieces, dated 9 June -14 July 2009.

2010

• Submission letter for entry to the prize. Handwritten, 1 piece.

2011

• Draft publicity poster for the Professor Mary Boyce Prize and the George Staunton Prize. Computer printed, 1 piece.

The records of the Gold Medal cover the institution of the medal and the conferment of the Honour in subsequent years. They include examples of the medal, the original Declaration of Trust, and subsequent printed version of the declaration, correspondence and newspaper cuttings. However there are not records for all instances of the presentation of the Medal. Researchers are advised to also examine the Council Minutes and the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (both held in the RAS Collections) when researching concerning the Gold Medal and its recipients.

From 1904-1929 the Royal Asiatic Society awarded a Gold Medal to a schoolboy writing on a chosen essay title. However, as entrants dwindled and few schools seemed interested in teaching Indian history, it was decided that the competition should be changed to one for undergraduate students. The change was finalised on 15th December 1931. Regulations for the University Prize Essay Fund were drawn up in 1932 and the first prize was awarded in 1933. In 1939, Professor Perceval Yetts designed a certificate to be presented with the prize (an example of this can be found in these papers). The prize was initially awarded annually but then became biennial. The prize money also increased at various intervals.
The records of the Universities Prize Essay cover the conversion from the Public School Medal to the Universities Prize Essay Fund, governance of the award and the conferment of the Honour in subsequent years. They include Rules, correspondence, and winning essays. However there are not records for all instances of the presentation of the award. Researchers are advised to also examine the Council Minutes and the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (both held in the RAS Collections) when researching concerning the Universities Prize Essay and its recipients.

An invitation from the President, Council and Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society to invite a delegate from the Royal Asiatic Society to represent the Society at the Royal Geographical Socety's Centenary on 21 October 1930 and the succeeding two days. Signed by Arthur R. Hinks, Secretary, and C.F. Close, President.

Material connected to the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Asiatic Society's interaction with it.

Material concerned with the Royal Society for Asian Affairs (originally the Central Asian Society) and its interaction with the Royal Asiatic Society.

In 1939 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences celebrated its bicentenary. These papers consist of a printed invitation to the Royal Asiatic Society to send delegates to the celebration and correspondence regarding this. These are:

• "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 1739-1939". Official invitation to the Royal Asiatic Society to send one or more delegates to the celebration of their 200th anniversary from 23-25 September 1939. Printed material with handwritten insertions, undated.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The President, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to state that the invitation will be laid before the Council at its next meeting. He asks for further information regarding the venue. Typed, dated 24 April 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to inform him that he had been unanimously chosen to represent the Society at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' bicentenary. Typed, dated 10 May 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor Bernhard Karlgreen to inform him that he had been unanimously chosen to represent the Society at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' bicentenary. Typed, dated 10 May 1939.
• Letter from Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to the Royal Asiatic Society to express his honour at being chosen to represent the Society. He also asks whether there might be some help with the expenses for attending the celebrations. Handwritten, 3 pages, dated 15 May 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Mr Perowne, Solicitor, concerning Rev. C.T. Harley Walker being asked to represent the Society and how Hoysted should respond to his letter. Handwritten, dated 17 May 1939.
• Letter from Edward Perowne, Solicitor, to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that the letter should be put before the Council. His view as Honorary Treasurer was that no money should be given. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 22 May 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to state that he would reply to his enquiry after the next Council meeting. Typed, dated 23 May 1939.
• Letter from Professor Bernhard Karlgreen to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that he would be honoured to represent the Society. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 30 May 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to inform him that the Council regrets that it will be unable to make a contribution towards travelling expenses. Typed, dated 14 June 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The President, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to state that the Society's delegate will be Professor Bernhard Karlgreen. Typed, dated 15 June 1939.
• Letter from Professor D.S. Margoliouth, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that one representative of the Society will be sufficient. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 5 July 1939.
• Letter from Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to the Royal Asiatic Society to state that he will not be able to travel to Sweden for the bicentenary celebrations. Handwritten, 2 pages, dated 14 July 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Rev. C.T. Harley Walker to express his regrets that Walker will be unable to represent the Society. Typed, dated 17 July 1939.

A handwritten volume written in Russian. A note in English, at the beginning of this volumes states that it contains: Copy of the Georgian Code of King Vakhtang Armenian Laws Laws of the Kings of Georgia This is an extensive volume of approximately 470 pages. It is in a fragile condition with the leather bound boards loose from the contents.

"Shanscrit & Bhakka of [Chanduchhaya Donguyal Rajah]". A handwritten manuscript in Braj in Devanagari script. The manuscript appears to relate part of the Mahābhārata story but is not accurately transcribed.

The paper is torn in the middle and therefore fragile.