Autograph document / letter signed 'Halil', addressed to Köprülüzâde [Mehmed] Fuad, (1890-1966), requesting the return of books (listed on letter) borrowed from the museum's library.

HALIL ETHEM [ELDEM], (Turkish archaeologist and the director of Müze-i Humayun, son of Sadrazam Ibrahim Edhem Pasha, brother of painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi), (1861-1938). 

"Müze-yi Humâyûn" [i.e. Imperial Museum] Letterhead - Dated AH fî 19 Tesrîn-i Evvel [1]332- Istanbul.

Original manuscript autograph letter/document signed by Halil Edhem Eldem as the director of Müze-yi Humâyûn [i.e. The first Ottoman / Turkish Archaeological Museum] sent to Mehmed Fuaad Köprülü, (1890-1966), requesting the return of books (listed on letter) borrowed from the museum's library. 35x21 cm. In Ottoman script. Includes 10 lines. Water stain on a big area on the paper. The script is fine and legible. A couple of punch-holes on the left side. Otherwise a good paper. Mentioned books are written at the beginning of the letter as a list: 1. Mongol history in French. 2. Jornal Azbatin (?). 3. Hun tarihi [i.e. History of Huns]. 4. A manuscript on the Ottoman geography. An interesting and rare manuscript. Halil Bey is an important figure in Turkish cultural history who operated in the late Ottoman period and the beginning of the Republic period. As he was the head of the Asari Atîka Museum, he was mostly interested in ancient works, but also worked on Turkish-Islamic inscriptions and coins. Halil Bey, who made important contributions to the development of Turkish museums, made efforts to collect and publish hundreds of inscriptions in Anatolia and to protect and restore Turkish architectural works.