Richard Francis Burton Library Manuscripts Collection

This collection consists mainly of manuscripts, correspondence, drawings, printed material, and catalogues related to Burton's work and interest with swords, fencing, and his interest in Middle Eastern poetry and history; the collection contains research material and early drafts of Burton's The Book of the Sword, Vols. I-III, and To the Gold Coast. The correspondence includes letters from, among others, Verney Lovett Cameron, Richard S. Charnock, Chatto and Windus, Dominic E. Colnaghi, Alexander Fergusson, Violet Greville, John Latham, Augustus H. L. Pitt-Rivers, Bernard Quaritch, William Tinsley, H. Schütz Wilson, Henry Yule and Hermann Zotenberg.

The papers consist of the following series:

1. Manuscripts - Volumes (Boxes 1-5) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. The volumes include one manuscript by Burton, and manuscripts by other authors, which reflect Burton's interest in Iceland and Middle Eastern history and poetry, including the Arabian Nights.

This series also includes printed material, clippings, catalogues, pamphlets, illustrations used and annotated by Burton; there is also one folder of Ephemera.

2. Manuscripts - Folders (Boxes 6-10) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. This series mainly consists of Burton's work on the sword and fencing, including The Book of the Sword, Infantry Sword Exercise, "Selected System of Fencing" and "The Sentiment of the Sword…;" it also includes a page from The Highlands of Brazil and an early draft of To the Gold Coast…: A Personal Narrative. There are a few manuscripts by other authors, mainly dealing with swords and fencing.

3. Manuscripts - Drawings (Box 11) are arranged by subject. This series is mainly drawings and illustrations for The Book of the Sword, Vols. I-III, and one illustration for North Borneo.

4. Correspondence and catalogues (Boxes 12-14) are arranged alphabetically by author. The majority of the letters are written to Richard Burton and deal with his ongoing work and interest in swords and fencing; there are a few letters to Isabel Burton. This series includes letters by, among others, Verney Lovett Cameron, Richard S. Charnock, Chatto and Windus, Dominic E. Colnaghi, Alexander Fergusson, Violet Greville, John Latham, Augustus H. L. Pitt-Rivers, Bernard Quaritch, William Tinsley, H. Shütz Wilson, Henry Yule and Hermann Zotenberg. Also includes one box of catalogues related to Burton's library.