In 1987 the Society looked to release itself from the lease for 56 Queen Anne Street. The lease was bought back from the Society by Howard de Walden Estates for £430,000. This series contains correspondence regarding the sale of the lease for 56 Queen Anne Street. This correspondence includes that with the Howard de Walden Estates, solicitors, the building surveyors, Morton-Smith & Co., and Charity Commissioners.

Internal correspondence concerning the use of the premises at Queen's Gardens. These are:

• Correspondence from Godfrey Goodwin to Dennis Duncanson concerning the changes that may be needed to Queen's Gardens, handwritten and typed, dated 18 September [1987].
• Report from Godfrey Goodwin, Librarian, to the Director concerning the Library and its collections, handwritten, dated 26 September 1987.
• Quotations for Library Shelving, typed with annotations, undated.

Report from Morton-Smith & Co., Chartered Surveyors, concerning water penetration through roof leakages into the property. Four page report with accompanying 10 colour photographs.

"Royal Asiatic Society 150th Anniversary Year, 1823-1973, Calendar of Events". List of events, some annotated with supplementary events and changes to the programme.

Material concerned with the Sesquicentenary Reception held on 19 February 1972 with Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in attendance.

Correspondence concerning the Sesquicentenary Reception. This falls into 6 categories:

• Letter from Ralph Tubbs, tenant at 56 Queen Anne Street, to state that he and his staff will have vacated the premises by 5.30pm on date of the reception, 1 item.
• Correspondence with Press, 2 items.
• Correspondence with City Hall concerning the Reception, 3 items.
• Letters of acceptance to the Reception, 49 items.
• Letters of regret concerning the Reception, 17 items.
• Letters of thanks after the Reception, 2 items.

18 black & white photographs documenting the Sesquicentenary Reception. Many show the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh being introduced to other guests. Some of these have been mounted on card. Also 20 small photographic negatives.

Material concerning the Royal Asiatic Society's Sesquicentenary Dinner held on 25th October 1973 at the Merchant Taylors' Hall.

Correspondence with guests concerning the Sesquicentenary Dinner. These are:

• Correspondence with the Japanese Ambassador, 3 items, dated 12-16 October 1973.
• Correspondence with Patricia Countess Jellicoe, 1 item, undated.
• Correspondence with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning the attendance of Sir Alec Douglas Hume, 1 item with envelope, dated 13 September 1973.
• Correspondence with the British Council concerning the attendance of Dr and Mrs Llewellyn, 1 item, dated 27 September 1973.
• Copy of invitation to Sir Mortimer Wheeler, 1 item, undated. Note from Peggy Hackforth-Jones, 1 item, dated 12 October 1973.
• Correspondence with Major Barwiss-Holliday concerning his inability to attend the Dinner due to his wife's serious illness, 2 items dated 22-25 October 1973.

Correspondence with Merchant Taylors' Hall concerning the hosting of the Sesquicenteary Dinner at the premises on Threadneedle Street. These are:

• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall to ask whether the possibility of holding the Sesquicentenary Dinner at the Hall could be made official, dated 21 April 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed in principle to the use of the Hall, dated 19 July 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed with the terms and conditions concerning the Sesquicentenary Dinner and to stipulate some costs and their preferred caterer, dated 12 January 1973.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, regarding the terms and conditions, and to invite the Master to the Dinner, dated 15 January 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to confirm acceptance of use of the Hall, dated 29 June 1973. Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the Company's account for the Dinner, dated 29 October 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to enclose the cheque for the Society's Dinner, dated 12 November 1973.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the receipt for the cheque, dated 23 November 1973.