É. Apor , H. Wang (ed.): Catalogue of the Collections of Sir Aurel Stein in the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Comp. by John Falconer, Ágnes Kárteszi, Ágnes Kelecsényi, Lilla Russell-Smith.

KELECSÉNYI Ágnes: Sir Aurel Stein and the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

SIR AUREL STEIN respondence of Ignác Hirschler, ophthalmologist'. Vilma H. Boros used these letters, written in German, for his study of Stein's early life, 'The youth of Aurel Stein', published in 1970.

5 In November 1921 Kálmán Szily, the Chief Librarian, reported an additional donation from Stein: 'Dr Theodore Duka, Honorary Member of the Academy, who deceased in 1908, left biographical notes which were copied in 1909 with the permission of his son, Frank. Considering the data they contain, he felt they are worth preserving for the next generations, and he sent the first copy to the Library of the Academy for this purpose. Two other copies were deposited in the Bodleian Library and the British Museum, respectively.

6 At the general meeting of the Academy held on 30 January 1922, the Chief Librarian reported that the Library had received a copy of Stein's Serindia

, and gave details of a letter from Stein, dated 24 December 1922, indicating his intention to donate part of his library to the Academy. The letter began with the words quoted above about the 'fine' Library, and continue 'so I do not have to give reason why I have bequeathed my books to the Library of the Academy in my will made many years ago. It is a rather small collection consisting of about 2,000 volumes mostly on subjects like Indian and Central Asian philology and archaeology. I do not know whether this donation will be of much use to the Library. Notwithstanding, I have arranged that these books should be transported free of charge to Budapest and no terms whatsoever should prevent the Library from selling undesirable works to its own benefit.'

1 In a further letter, dated 29 November 1922, he also promised to make a catalogue of the books as soon as he returned to his winter residence. The President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences expressed his thanks for the gift in January 1923: 'In your esteemed favour addressed to the Chief Librarian of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on 24 December last year, you were pleased to notify us that you are willing to assign part of your library in India that you do not need for the moment to the Academy and have it transported to Budapest at your own cost, provided the Academy would be ready to undertake the fulfilment of the following terms and conditions: 1. While the donor is alive, he shall be deemed to be the owner of the assigned books and the Library of the Academy may accession them only after his death. 2. Should the donor still need any of these books at any time, it shall be sent to him without delay at his cost against a receipt. 5 Vilma H. Boros, Stein Aurél ifjúsága. Hirschler Ignác és Stein Ernő levelezése Stein Aurélról, 1866-1891 (The Youth of Aurel Stein. Correspondence between Ignác Hirschler and Emő Stein on Aurél Stein) Budapest, 1970 (Publicationes Bibliothecae Academiae Sc. Hung. No.64). 6 Akadémiai Értesítő, 1921, p.181. 7 Akadémiai Értesítő, 1922, p.39. 15