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A handwritten copy of the Mémoire sur l'histoire ancienne du Japon : d'après le Ouen Hien Tong Kao de Ma-Touan-Lin written by the Marquis d'Hervey de Saint Denys, President of the Society of Ethnographie, originally published in 1872. This version was copied for Ernest Mason Satow by the 'Ph. [Society] Japaniste' in 1876.

It is a small bound volume with red cover and bearing the bookplate for Ernest Mason Satow, Yedo, on the inside cover.

These Papers consist of the handwritten manuscript by William Cullen of his "Memorandum by Major-General Cullen addressed to the Madras Government, on the 5th December 1843." In this memorandum Cullen sets out his ideas for district museums to house rock specimens and other details of the areas of interest to science and agriculture. He also lays out his suggestions that all engineers should carry barometers with them and make use of them for assessing altitudes, which can help in decisions regarding navigation, irrigation and transport communication. The memorandum consists of 30 foolscap written sides and a further endpaper with identifying label, all tied with green ribbon.

The papers consist of a single letter from John Haffenden, Malaysian Agency, British and Foreign Bible Society, to William Edward Maxwell to send two copies of the "Acts of the Apostle" in Malay (Arabic character) which had been printed in Europe by the Society. Haffenden asks Maxwell for his opinion on the type with which the book has been printed. The letter is dated Singapore, 18 January 1889.

Typed manuscript entitled, "Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya. Sections K. L. + M. The Chinese factor in the Policy of Intervention" concerning the time period 1872-1876. It is also labelled as "File 5" and "Duplicate". It appears to be an early draft or research material for part of Blythe's book The Impact of Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya published in 1969. The material seems to be in more depth than the corresponding material covered within the publication. With the file is a note which reads, "It is possible that Prof. Cowan at S.O.A.S., London, would like to have this File 5, as it deals with the subject of his book on Intervention".

James Forlong bequeathed money to the Royal Asiatic Society to come to the Society upon the death of his wife. The money was to be used towards the establishment of an 'Imperial Oriental College or School' and in particular for the promotion of lectures. This fund was to be administered by the Royal Asiatic Society. With the opening of the School of Oriental Studies, London, it was necessary to negotiate with the School about the use of the Fund. These papers consist of administrative documents and correspondence concerned with both the inauguration of the Forlong Fund and its continuing application for lectures and scholarships. The administrative documents and correspondence concerning the publications undertaken can be found in the Society's publication records.

'Dictionnaire Kalmouk - Allemand: Texte' - a handwritten manuscript believed to be created by Julius Klaproth containing the Kalmyk alphabet and a dictionary of words. A note has been added on the front paper recording; 'This fragment of a Dictionary most probably came from Klaproth's library which was sold at his death - H [S] Decr. 1850'. The dictionary sections are divided under headings of page numbers, suggesting this manuscript may have been copied from a larger one. Inserted into the manuscript is a piece of yellow paper providing the information gained By Dr W. Simon about the manuscript's provenance. The front cover has a label affixed with 'Mongolian' ascribed in ink and 'Kalmuch- German Dictionary' in pencil. and the spine has a paper label stating Mongolian-German'. These appear to be additions made once in came into the Society's possession.

The Barwis-Holliday was established in 1977 by the donation of investments to the value of £690 by Major J.E. Barwis-Holliday and supplemented by a bequest of £1,000 from the estate of the donor. The income was to be used to finance a monetary award for a paper upon a Far-Eastern subject to be published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. These papers consist of material created in the administration and conferment of the award.

Correspondence with J.E. Talbert concerned with him acting as a tutor, finding a partner, requiring a secretary and looking for accommodation. These are:

• Correspondence from R.A. Cottman, Dorchester, Dorset, concerning Talbert providing 'practical instruction'. Handwritten, 3 letters dated 14 June 1945, 21 June 1945 and undated.
• Correspondence with Phyllis A. Bamattre, Social Agent, Leicester and London, concerning the possibility of Talbert being introduced to a possible partner. The material contains 3 typed letters from Phyllis A. Bamattre to J.E. Talbert with accompanying instructional leaflets and lists of ladies on her books, and 1handwritten draft letter from Talbert to Bamattre given his choice to pursue further. 39 pieces, dated 14 June - 18 August 1945.
• Correspondence from Edith Evans, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, concerning a potential friendship. Handwritten, 2 letters, dated 30 July - 15 August 1945.
• Postcard from Gilbert Marshall, Secretary, D.M.C.A., Bournemouth asking Talbert for more details so he may be able to help. Typed, dated 24 August 1945.
• Correspondence concerning Talbert's advertisement for a Secretary: a typed letter from Constance M. Bird with enclosed reference, 2 pieces, dated 4 September 1945; and a handwritten letter from Joan Eyers, 1 piece, dated 4 September 1945.
• Correspondence concerning Talbert's need for accommodation: correspondence from C.A. Rich to offer a room and then withdraw the offer, 2 letters, handwritten, dated 12 and 18 September 1945; a letter from Lucy Horrell to provide particulars of a room, handwritten with typed particulars, dated 1 October 1945; and a letter from R. Thurston to inform they have received his application from the Bureau of Accommodation and can offer what he requires, handwritten, dated 21 October 1945. These are all located in the Bournemouth area.
• Envelope addressed to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, 56 Queen Anne Street, London, postmarked, Bournemouth, Poole, 23 August 1947. The postage paid was inadequate and there are two postage due stamps each for four old pence. On the reverse are stickers stating, 'Medical Post'.

The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was instigated in 2000 to replace the Society's Triennial Gold Medal and to be awarded in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scholarship in the field of Asian Studies. A new design for the Medal was sought and this was commissioned from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn. The medal took longstanding symbols of the Society and gave them a modern twist. She suggested:

'The starting point for the design of the medal was an article by John Hansman in the Society's Journal of 1984: ‘The Emblems, Medals and Medallists of The Royal Asiatic Society’. I was very inspired by the Daniells’ design of a caparisoned elephant for a signet, first produced in 1824, which was used to seal letters and documents. A simplified version of this design by Professor Perceval Yetts has become the ‘logo’ of the society, stamped on its letter head and on all its publications, and so it was a particularly appropriate image to use. I depicted the signet impressed into the brass as if it were wax, to act as a metaphor for the medal as a ‘seal of approval’. Unlike most Victorian award medals the lettering is incised, this is so that it will blend in with the name of the recipient, which obviously has to be engraved at a later date. In 1823 the Banyan tree was chosen for the society’s official seal by the Council and it has been depicted on previous medals commissioned by the society. It is a magnificent tree and an apt symbol of the society, growing strong and branching out. The medal was cast (rather than struck) which allows for more depth in modelling and I tried to take advantage of that by depicting the tree as a mature and vigorous plant, still growing strongly.' (Email, see details in the catalogue).

The medal was first awarded to John Gullick in 2001 with subsequent awards being made:
2003 – Professor Edmund Bosworth
2006 – Professor Christopher Shackle
2009 – Professor Sir Christopher Bayly
2014 – Dr Bridget Allchin and Professor David Bivar
2019 - Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand
2023 – Robert Irwin

The material covered by this catalogue consists of correspondence and administrative documents concerning the setting up of the award and the commissioning of the medal, and the individual awards. There are also photographs of some of the award events and a sample of the medal.