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

ÁGNES KELECSÉNYI transport from India. The Library readily complied with this request, with no considerations attached, partly because he was a friend and benefactor of the Library and partly because it was already storing 22 cases of books to be sent to Hungary. The Kashmir bequest was shipped to Europe on 15 July 1949. However, the execution of the will was a lengthy process, further compounded by international politics. It was for a time impossible to deliver the bequest to its destination as part of the books were in England, which was at war with Hungary. The law was that all property destined for Hungary was to be seized by the Enemy Property Department and sold. However, no claim was made for the books from Kashmir, as these were outside England at the date of Stein's death. Warren Murton, as administrator of the estate, contacted the Academy on 28 December 1955 with the following information: 'We have recently been in communication with the Administration of Enemy Property Department in London (whose consent must still be obtained by the Trustees prior to giving effect to the deceased's will) and they have informed us that those books which form part of the bequest and were already in this country on the occasion of the deceased's death are claimed by the Administration of Enemy Property Department to whom the Trustees must hand such books for sale but that the remainder of the books namely those which were at the date of death at Kashmir are at the disposal of the Trustees to give effect to the terms of the bequest to your Academy pursuant to the deceased's Will. 'The total collection of books at the Bodleian Library which include both those already in this country subject to the Administrators' charge and those received from Kashmir can briefly be classified into the following categories: (1) ordinary books of general nature, such as might be found in any well-read person's library (2) a good many of duplicate copies, specially of Sir Aurel Stein's own works and articles (3) specialist works connected with the scientific work for which he became famous 'The collection of books with the Bodleian Library is extremely voluminous - those already in this country at the date of death comprise about 20 crates (there is a detailed list available) and the others originally in Kashmir occupy about 200 feet of shelf (in respect of which there is no detailed list available.) 'With regards to the books which are subject to the Administrators' charge and which of course are to be found in each of the above categories. Although it is the Administrators' duty to sell these books he has nevertheless indicated to us bearing in mind there are included amongst these books some which fall within category (3) above he appreciates the only way of keeping the whole of the books together as a collection would be for the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to purchase those which the Administrator has to sell.' 18