Paper scrolls Paper scrolls

A set of four paper scrolls probably written by George Lewis, who presented a cabinet of ‘Oriental manuscripts and curiosities to the Library in 1727. The scrolls list the titles of the manuscripts according to a planned arrangement in a number of chests or storage boxes. These lists could be his own personal instructions for the packing of the manuscripts prior to their voyage from India to England. The lists have the headings ‘E’, ‘G’ and ‘H’ which could refer to the packing chests he selected for their transport. They might also have formed the basis for his later arrangement of the manuscripts in the compartments of the upper section of the cabinet, also denoted by letters of the alphabet, which eventually became their permanent home.

A set of four paper scrolls probably written by George Lewis, who presented a cabinet of ‘Oriental manuscripts and curiosities to the Library in 1727. The scrolls list the titles of the manuscripts according to a planned arrangement in a number of chests or storage boxes. These lists could be his own personal instructions for the packing of the manuscripts prior to their voyage from India to England. The lists have the headings ‘E’, ‘G’ and ‘H’ which could refer to the packing chests he selected for their transport. They might also have formed the basis for his later arrangement of the manuscripts in the compartments of the upper section of the cabinet, also denoted by letters of the alphabet, which eventually became their permanent home.