About the George Finlay Papers
The George Finlay Papers contain materials created by and related to the British Historian and Philhellene George Finlay, his father John Finlay, Greek-American Philhellene George Jarvis, and British Philhellene Captain Frank Abney Hastings, dating from 1791 to 1949. Most of the collection consists of George Finlay’s meticulous records of his travels, personal and official correspondence, his personal expenditures, copious memoranda on strategy and on military and political organisation, journal entries, maps, facetiae, scrapbooks, personal notes on people—Greeks and others—and on revolutionary events, newspaper cuttings mainly on Greece and international affairs, as well as Finlay’s original manuscripts of the History of the Greek Revolution (1861) as well as corrected proofs of Finlay’s other published works.
Also included are the papers of Finlay’s father, John, two journals of Greek American philhellene, George Jarvis, and those of Finlay’s fellow British philhellene, Captain Frank Abney Hastings. The Hastings papers, which Finlay purchased in 1830, include personal and official correspondence, ship’s logs, notes that he took on board or ashore, as well as memoranda on strategy and on the naval organisation of the revolutionary forces. Collectively, these records reveal a great deal about the character, motivations, ideas, as well as the military and political judgements of these British individuals, as well as of many others, both British and Greek, with whom they interacted during the Greek War of Independence as well as many of Finlay's other interests, such as Classical and Byzantine history, natural history and politics.
Book by A. R. Rangabes (Απομνημονεύματα). Contains a letter, dated 1/13 April 1859. The letter was previously loose in front of book, missing as of 7/28/2026. Presentation note in pen by W. Miller on the title page. Annotations in pencil throughout. Newspaper clipping pasted on inside of back cover, sent from the University of Chicago Press. Page of handwritten notes. Not originally George Finlay's book; it was presented by William MIller in October of 1925 to the BSA Library.
A. R. Rangabes to Sir Thomas Wyse. Athens, 1/13 April 1859. Sends W statistical tables of criminals published by Ministry of Justice in 1853 (previously loose in front of A. R. R., Απομνημονεύματα, vol. 1 and 2, Athens, 1894). Letter is missing as of 7/28/2026.
Book by Strabo (Γεωγραφία). Contains a letter (original), dated 27 April 1860 (attached to front flyleaf).
Dom Ellis Colnagh to George Finlay. Athens, 27 April 1860. Thanks for volume of Strabo sent by George Finlay (stuck on front flyleaf of Strabo, Γεωγραφία, vol. 1, Paris, 1815).
Book by John Stuart Mill (On Liberty). Contains a letter (original), dated 15 September 1861 (attached to front flyleaf). Newspaper clippings pasted onto back flyleaves (handwritten description of these clippings pasted on front flyleaf) (not included by Hussey). Handwritten on one of the front flyleaves is 'From the Author.'
John Stuart Mill to George Finlay. Blackheath Park, Kent, 15 September 1861. Thanks George Finlay for information; will come with tent via Ancona and Corfu arriving Athens in March. Hopes to resume 'those interesting conversations' with George Finlay. Leaves for Avignon on 23 September (stuck on front flyleaf of J. S. M., On Liberty, London, 1859).
Book by George Finlay (Griechenland unter den Römem). Contains a letter in German (original), dated 15 September 1861 (previously attached to front flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive).
Adolf Ellissen to George Finlay. Göttingen, 15 September 1861. On publishing problems in connection with E's German translation of George Finlay, Griechenland unter den Römem, Leipzig, 1861 (in German, previously attached to front flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by J. P. Bellaire (Précis des opérations générales de la division française du Levant). Contains two letters (originals), dated 12 November 1861 (attached to front flyleaf) and the other with no date (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive). Also contains a label written by Herman Merivale with George Finlay's address (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive). Title page bears handwritten dedication note to Finlay.
Herman Merivale to George Finlay. India Office, Westminster, 12 November 1861. Sends George Finlay copy of J. P. Bellaire, Précis des opérations générales de la division française du Levant. . ., Paris, 1805, re defence of Ionian Isles and Ali Pasha (letter attached to front flyleaf of book).
Herman Merivale to George Finlay. Hotel d'Archi?, no date. Returns a book lent by George Finlay. (previously loose in J. P. Bellaire, Précis des opérations générales de la division française du Levant. . ., Paris, 1805, now loose and stored in archive).
Label written by Herman Merivale with George Finlay's address (previously loose in J. P. Bellaire, Précis des opérations générales de la division française du Levant. . ., Paris, 1805, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by Carl Boetticher (Der Baumkultus der Hellenen) (same as FIN/GF/B/9/78). Contains two letters (originals), dated 1 July 1862 (in German, previously loose in front of book, now loose and stored in archive) (FIN/GF/B/9/36/1), the second undated (in French previously loose in the front of the book, now loose and stored in archive) (see FIN/GF/B/9/78/2). At one point contained a third letter in French (FIN/GF/B/9/78/1), which is missing as of 8/3/2026. Handwritten dedication note to Finlay on one of the front flyleaves, dated 1862.
Carl Boetticher to George Finlay. Tempelhofer-Ufer 37, Berlin, 1 July 1862. Sends George Finlay his Der Baumkultus der Hellenen, Berlin, 1856; mention of B's discoveries on Acropolis. Thanks George Finlay for hospitality during his stay at Athens (previously loose in front of B's book, now loose and stored in archive).
Five bound pamphlets with different title, but spine reads Population Vital Statistics Ireland—Weights and Measures. Contains letter (original), dated 7 march 1863 (previously attached to back flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive—photocopy inserted in its place). Also contains newspapers clippings and notes by Finlay (loose in book). Handwritten table of contents by Finlay on one of the front flyleaves.
Sir William R. Wilde to George Finlay. 1 Merrion Square, Dublin, 7 March 1863. Thanks George Finlay for statistical information on Greece; is sending book requested by George Finlay; personal news (previously stuck on back flyleaf of bound pamphlets with spine reading Population Vital Statistics Ireland—Weights and Measures, now loose and stored in archive). Loose newspaper cuttings and notes by George Finlay.
Book (Anzeiger für Schweizerische Altertumskunde). Contains a letter in French (apparent fascimile), dated January 1864 (attached to front flyleaf). There is also a diagram pasted onto the letter.
Ferdinand Keller to George Finlay (?). Zürich, January 1864. Re recent discoveries of palaeolithic bones, fossils, and paintings in Switzerland (in French; stuck on front flyleaf of Anzeiger für Schweizerische Altertumskunde, 5, 1872). Note: does not seem like this is a personal letter to Finlay.
Collection of bound archaeological pamphlets, spine reads Prehistorie Archaiology—Danish Irish Swiss (vol. 1). Contains a letter (apparent original), dated 14 May 1864 (attached to front flyleaf). Contains handwritten table of contents by Finlay. Also contains a handwritten note about the Historical Archives kept at the Royal Society of Northern Antiquities (apparent original).
Carl C. Rafn, Secretary of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries to George Finlay. Copenhagen, 14 May 1864. On activity of Society; request for a communication from George Finlay (attached to front flyleaf).
Book by Anton Prokesch von Osten (Geschichte des Abfalls der Griechen). Contains a letter in French (original), dated 2 September 1864 (attached to front flyleaf).
Baron Anton von Prokesch-Osten to George Finlay. Büyükdere, 2 September 1864. Deplores fatal destiny of Greece so ill served by the protecting Powers. Understands George Finlay's longing for 'the mountains of Argyllshire and the grey hills of Arran'. Praises George Finlay's pioneer work for Greek history particularly 'les espaces presqu'inconnues de I'époque byzantine' (in French, attached to front flyleaf of A. von P.-O., Geschichte des Abfalls der Griechen . . ., vol. 1, Vienna, 1867).
Book by John Yonge Ackerman (A Descriptive Catalogue…of Roman Coins). Contains a letter (original), dated 20 April 1865 (previously attached to front flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive).
Eric Farquhar to George Finlay. 20 April 1865. Would like to delay visit to Rusopoulos's collection of vases (previously stuck on front flyleaf of J. Y. Ackerman, A Descriptive Catalogue . . . of Roman Coins, vol. 2, London, 1834, now loose and stored in archive).
Book (Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs). Contains a letter (original), dated 11 August 1865 (previously attached to front flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive).
G. Constantine (United States Vice-Consul) to George Finlay. Athens, 11 August 1865. Offers a copy of Diplomatic Correspondence of the U.S.from the Year 1864 (previously stuck on front flyleaf of Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs . . ., pt. I, Washington, 1865, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by Baron Richard Monckton Milnes (Memorials of a Tour…in Greece) (same as FIN/GF/B/9/30). Contains two letters (originals), dated 28 February 1859 (attached to p. 14) (FIN/GF/B/9/30/1) and 10 November 1865 (stuck to p. 124 of book) (see FIN/GF/B/9/43/1). Also contains extensive handwritten notes near the beginning of the book (not by Finlay), several illustrations ('pencil sketch of the author by a lady' (1848); 'Tempi di Pesto,' painting (5 x 10 cm); 'Psorarus of Corfu' painting (18 x 26 cm); 'Costume of Sinardes,' painting (18 x 26 cm); double-sided drawing of 'Turkish tombs,' pencil sketch 'by William Gell, and overleaf 'Rhodes' in pen and pencil by Gell (13 x 24 cm); double-sided drawing of pencil sketch of 'Church, now mosque' by Gell, and overleaf pencil sketch by Gell of Palace of the Grand Master (13 x 24 cm); 'Souliots,' coloured drawing by Gell of (7 x 13 cm), 'Via Mala,' hand-painted engraving (18 x 21 cm); 'Pnyx,' pencil drawing by Gell (13 x 18 cm); 'Athens,' watercolour by Gell (22 x 34 cm)), and three newspaper clippings (one pasted on p. 123, one pasted on p. 133, and one previously loose in the book, now loose and stored in archive {FIN/GF/B/9/30/2}). Also contains a handwritten poem on the front flyleaf, a handwritten description of the death of a Henry Hallam on another front flyleaf, and a description of Hallam's funeral on the page facing the previous one. Not originally George Finlay's book; it was presented to the BSA Library by A.M.W. Hodgson on April 10 1924.
Admiral Gell to Philip Gell, Hopton, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. 10 November 1865. Personal news (extract) (stuck on p. 124 of R. M. Milnes, Memorials of a Tour . . . in Greece, London, 1834, illustrations added 1860). Corrections made 14.04.2007 M. Stanley comments that p. 136 sketch of Aegina is misidentified as Sounion. Extensive handwritten notes near the beginning of the book, not in Finlay or Gell's hand. Illustrations include: 'pencil sketch of the author by a lady' (1848); 'Tempi di Pesto,' painting (5 x 10 cm); 'Psorarus of Corfu' painting (18 x 26 cm); 'Costume of Sinardes,' painting (18 x 26 cm); double-sided drawing of 'Turkish tombs,' pencil sketch 'by William Gell, and overleaf 'Rhodes' in pen and pencil by Gell (13 x 24 cm); double-sided drawing of pencil sketch of 'Church, now mosque' by Gell, and overleaf pencil sketch by Gell of Palace of the Grand Master (13 x 24 cm); 'Souliots,' coloured drawing by Gell of (7 x 13 cm), 'Via Mala,' hand-painted engraving (18 x 21 cm), newspaper cutting 1st Jan 1866 pasted in re: kidnapping by brigands (14 x 18 cm); 'Pnyx,' pencil drawing by Gell (13 x 18 cm); 'Athens,' watercolour by Gell (22 x 34 cm); news cutting on excavations at Athens.
Book (Return: Ionian Islands). Contained a letter in French, dated 30 May 1866 (previously attached to front flyleaf, but missing as of 7/29/2026). Contains handwritten description of some of the contents of the book on one of the front flyleaves.
Gustave Deville to George Finlay. Athens, 30 May 1866. Has sent George Finlay copy of his book on the Tzaconian dialect (in French, previously stuck on front flyleaf of Return: Ionian Islands, 11 March 1853, Blue Book 226). Missing as of 7/29/2026
Book by Blackie (Homer and the Iliad) (same as FIN/GF/B/9/18). Contains a letter (apparent fascimile) glued to the front cover, dated 17 January 1848 (see FIN/GF/B/9/18/1 for this letter). Another letter (apparent fascimile) glued before the title page, dated 14 June 1866 (FIN/GF/B/9/45/1)
Original letter from John Stuart Blackie to George Finlay. Edinburgh, 14 June 1866. Thanks George Finlay for his paper on Achaian coins. Discusses his own work on Homer; wishes to dedicate it to George Finlay as 'the most scholarly Scot' he knows; has abandoned his interest in Greek politics (unfinished ; stuck on p. (i) of J. S. B., Homer and the Iliad, vol. 1, Edinburgh, 1866).
Book (Greek Papers: Finance and Statistics). Contains a letter printed in French (original), dated 21 April 1867 (previously loose at back of book, now loose and stored in archive).
Hahn (Austrian Consul for western Greece). Open letter. Syra, 21 April 1867. On the system of lighthouses in the Cyclades (printed in French; previously loose at back of Greek Papers: Finance and Statistics, vol. ii, 1858-68, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by Joseph de Cigalla (Σχεδίασμα κατόπτρου τῆς νεοελληνικῆς φιλολογίας). Contains a letter in French (original), dated 1 October 1867 (attached to back flyleaf). Notes in pen in George Finlay's hand on front flyleaf, with two visiting cards of de Cigalla pasted in. Further handwritten notes by Finlay on pp. 49, 69, and 101. Statistics relating to public education in Greece pasted on the inside of the back cover. Handwritten list of books published in Athens on back flyleaf (original).
Gregorius G. Pappadopoulos to George Finlay. Athens, 1 October 1867. Comments on de Cigalla's list of literary publications after 1860 (in French; stuck on back flyleaf of J. de Cigalla, Σχεδίασμα κατόπτρου τῆς νεοελληνικῆς φιλολογίας, Hermoupolis, 1846).
Book by G. C. Bolanachi (Précis de l'histoire de Crete). Contains two letters in French (originals), both dated 12 February 1869 (both bound into volume).
G. C. Bolanachi to George Finlay. Geneva, 12 February 1869. Sends him a copy of the first part of his Précis de l'histoire de Crete . . ., Paris, 1869 (in French, bound into the volume).
G. C. Bolanachi to George Finlay. Geneva, 12 February 1869. Thanks George Finlay for brochure; sends second part of his book on Crete (in French, bound into the volume).
Book by Robert Walpole (Travels in Various Countries of the East). Contains a letter in Greek (original), dated 1871 (previously attached to front flyleaf, now loose and stored in archive) (1a). Also contains part of the front of an envelope bearing Finlay's name (1b). Notes in George Finlay's hand on pp. 51, 57, 70, 83, 287, 289, 356, 382, 409, 439, 442, 497, and 506. Originally belonged to John Finlay (his seal is on the inside of the front cover).
Constantinos Loucas to George Finlay. re rent owed (in Greek, previously stuck on front flyleaf of R. Walpole, Travels . . ., London, 1820). Also part of front of envelope, with Finlay's name.
Book by J. Kennedy (Conversations on Religion with Lord Byron) (same as FIN/GF/B/9/51). Contains two letters (originals), dated 8 June 1871 (FIN/GF/B/9/50/1) (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive) and 12 June 1871 (FIN/GF/B/9/51/1) (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive). Rebound July 2009.
The Revd. Alexander Napier to Fanny Potterill. Holkham Vicarage, Wells, Norfolk, 8 June 1871 Requests her good offices in asking George Finlay for information on Lord Byron's last days in Greece with view to publishing translation and new edition of Karl Elze's Life of Byron (previously loose in J. Kennedy, Conversations on Religion with Lord Byron . . ., London, 1830, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by J. Kennedy (Conversations on Religion with Lord Byron) (same as FIN/GF/B/9/50). Contains two letters (originals), dated 8 June 1871 (FIN/GF/B/9/50/1) (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive) and 12 June 1871 (FIN/GF/B/9/51/1) (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive). Also contains a letter in Greek (original) bound in between pp. 240 and 241. Rebound July 2009.
Fanny Potterill to George Finlay. 26 Bedford Gardens, Kensington, 12 June 1871. Asks if George Finlay will help A. Napier whose letter (FIN/GF/B/9/50/1) is enclosed (previously loose in J. Kennedy, Conversations on Religion with Lord Byron . . ., London, 1830, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by John Lubbock (Prehistoric Times). Contains a letter (original), dated 28 November 1871 (bound into front of book). Also contains a press cutting (original) (previously loose in book, now loose and stored in archive). Four other press cuttings on Sir John Lubbock pasted on the front flyleaves. George Finlay's notes in red ink on pp 15, 23, 68, 116, 120, 140, 209, and 229.
Sir John Lubbock to George Finlay. 15 Lombard St., London, 28 November 1871. Thanks for prehistoric specimens; sends his paper on 'Relationship'; asks George Finlay for communication for Anthropological Institute (bound into front of J. L., Prehistoric Times . . ., London, 1865).
Press cutting on 'the wit and humour of the South-Sea Islanders' (previously loose in J. L., Prehistoric Times. . ., London, 1865, now loose and stored in archive).
Book by T. L. Donaldson (Architectura Numismatica). Contains Prof. Donaldson's visiting card (previously attached to front pastedown, now missing—however, Hussey does not include this) and a letter (original), dated March 1872 (attached to front flyleaf of book).
Professor T. L. Donaldson to George Finlay. 21 Upper Bedford Place, Russell Square, London, March 1872. : To introduce the geologist Professor Ansted, who is visiting Athens (stuck on front flyleaf of T. L. D., Architectura numismatica . . ., London, 1859).