Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1807-1835 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 handwritten manuscript within a bound volume with a green cloth cover, 28 x 19 cm.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Heinrich Julius Klaproth was born in Berlin and studied at the Halle University. Klaproth studied Asiatic languages, and published in 1802 his Asiatisches Magazin (Weimar 1802–1803). He was called to St. Petersburg and given an appointment in the academy there and in 1805 he was a member of Count Golovkin's embassy to China. On his return he was despatched by the academy to the Caucasus on an ethnographical and linguistic exploration (1807–1808), and was afterwards employed for several years in connection with the academy's Oriental publications. In 1812 he moved back to Berlin.
In 1815 he settled in Paris, and in 1816 Humboldt procured for him, from the king of Prussia, the title and salary of Professor of Asiatic languages and literature, with permission to remain in Paris as long as was requisite for the publication of his works He died in Paris on 28 August 1835.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Repository
Archival history
This manuscript is believed to have been created by Julius Klaproth which was sold in an auction after his death and described in the 'Catalogue de Livre et Manuscrits de M. Klaproth' in 1839 by Laudresse. The item was resold in February 1850 by Puttich & Simpson. This information was gleaned by Dr W. Simon from catalogues in the British Museum.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
it is unknown how the manuscript came to be part of the Society's collections.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
'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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here : https://royalasiaticarchives.org/. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
- French
- German
- Kalmyk
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The Society's collections hold books and pamphlets written by Klaproth. Details can be found at: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=&q=klaproth&weight_search=1.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2024.