The material within this collection comprises of correspondence and publications by and about Richard Francis Burton and his wife Isabel Burton (nee Arundell). There are also two photographs of Burton and artefacts.

Also included within this Collection are correspondence concerning the acquisition of the material by the RAS and some supplementary material regarding Oscar Eckenstein, its original collector.

These are pamphlets and offprints covering many different areas of his interest. Some are rare editions whilst others are typed reprints of material held elsewhere.

"Stone Talk [Greek word: LITHOPHONEMA]: being some of the marvellous sayings of a petral portion of Fleet Street, London, to one Dr Polyglott, PH.D". by Frank Baker, D.O.N. [“Richard Burton” in pencil underneath]. In verse.- A bitter satire on London social life. (London: Robert Hardwicke. 1865.) Inscription facing title page in Burton’s handwriting: “Justin H. McCarthy - with the best wishes of the author [Arabic: Hajji Abdullah].” Violet cloth binding.

The Kasidah (couplets) of Haji Abdu a1-Yazdi. A Lay of the Higher Law translated and annotated by his friend and pupil, F.B. by Captain Sir Richard F. Burton, KCMG, FRGS&c. 1880. London: Privately printed. First edition, first issue. Stiff light yellow paper covers with half-title in black. Found within the pamphlet is an advertsiement for The Kasidah - printed sheet. Note with the book "Kasidah [ ] N.T. 1880" "first edition", "privately printed..."

The Kasidah, first edition, second issue. Stiff light yellow paper with half title and three lines of Arabic script in black. Inscribed on front cover: “Harrison Veevers 1885.” Note on separate slip “Title page added and printed (sic) later by Quaritch.” Page block breaking up.

“Three Sonnets of Camoens” – Nos II, LXX, LXXXIII. Single sheet. Headed by note from Burton to unnamed addressee. Printed sheet.

“Lusiads” - Burton's translation: prospectus. Single sheet with decorated border top and left margins. In addition to the Lusiads, the prospectus also advertises Burton's ‘Life of Camoens’ and his translation of Camoens’ ‘Lyricks’.

Episode of Dona Ignez de Castro. The Lusiads of Camoens, Canto III, stanzas 118-135, printed for private circulation 1879, Harrison & Sons, London. This is a typewritten copy of RB/2/10. Typed Copy of Pamphlet originally in the Kensington Library (now in the Huntingdon Library, California).

Correspondence from Roger Ingpen to Oscar Eckenstein concerning Eckenstein's copy of the "Kasidah", 19 March 1915 - April 1915.

Thomas Manning was an inveterate note-taker, making notes about all aspects of knowledge that interested him. These notes and notebooks cover from his early mathematical and poetical musing, through his travels in China and Tibet to later concerns regarding Roman Catholic emancipation. They have been organised into various sections mainly according to their subject manner.Thus:

• TM/9/1: Notebook with inserts from time at university to later life and covering all topics.
• TM/9/2 - 5 A series of notebooks from Manning's time in China and Tibet including notes on his travels and language studies
• TM/9/6 Loose notes from Chinese period
• TM/9/7 Pocket almanacs with annotations
• TM/9/8 Poetry and Riddles
• TM/9/9 Mathematical Notes and Notebooks
• TM/9/10 Notes on Roman Catholic Emancipation