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↑ Up one levelPortrait of Sir Mortimer Durand
Identity area
Reference code
GB 891 RAS COLL4-RAS COLL4/2-RAS COLL4/2/7
Publication status
Published
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
Typed and handwritten, 4 pieces
Date(s)
- 20 October 1943-23 October 1943 (Creation)
Context area
Name of creator
(1823-)
Biographical history
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas.
Repository
Royal Asiatic Society Archives
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Correspondence regarding the disposal of a portrait of Sir Mortimer Durand:
* Letter from [H.M.] Hake, Director, National Portrait Gallery, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform of the Trustees decision not to accept the portrait of Sir Mortimer Durand. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 April 1943.
* Letter from Alex Godley, Deputy Chairman of Council, the Royal Empire Society, to the Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society to thank for the offer of the portrait but due to damage of their building in air raids of 1941, they have nowhere safe to keep it. Typed, 1 piece, dated 20 October 1943.
* Letter from Hon Secretary, Oriental Club, to Royal Asiatic Society to inform they have insufficient space to accept the portrait. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 23 October 1943.
* Note to say that the Foreign Office had accepted the portrait for their office in Tehran. Handwritten, 1 piece, undated.
Subsequent to this the Society in 2000-2001, initiated inquiries with the department, Government Art Collections, into the whereabouts of the portrait. It was ascertained that the portrait was shipped on the SS Kohistan in 1949 to Tehran but in a check in 1974, the portrait was missing though this had not been communicated to the Society. Ten pieces, typed dated 24 February 2000 - 15 November 2001.
Conditions of access and use area
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