GENEKAL PROGRESS AT THE MUSEUM. 15 



In June 1912, on the occasion of the retirement of Sir 

 Sidney Colvin from the Keepership of the Department of 

 Prints and Drawings, an exhibition of the principal drawings 

 by European artists acquired during the last eight years of 

 his Keepership was arranged, in place of the exhibition of 

 Chinese and Japanese drawings previously on view. It is 

 intended that the present exhibition shall remain open until 

 the Department moves into its new quarters in the Extension 

 Building. 



In view of the increasing size and importance of the col- 

 lections of Oriental art, a new Sub-Department of Oriental 

 Prints and Drawings has been created. 



The work of the official Guide has been continued through- 

 out the year. His tours are well attended, and great 

 satisfaction with the instruction given by him is frequently 

 expressed. 



In another direction an attempt has been made to widen 

 the influence and increase the interest of the Museum. A 

 counter has been established in the Entrance Hall for the 

 sale of official publications and of picture postcards and other 

 photographs of objects in the collections. About 50,000 post- 

 cards alone were sold in the first five months, and there is 

 ample evidence that this opportunity of obtaining reproduc- 

 tions of works of art and objects of antiquity is much 

 appreciated by visitors. 



The excavations at Jerablus were continued in the spring 

 and autumn of 1912, the second season being made possible by 

 the generosity of an anonymous benefactor. The results in 

 the way of sculptures, inscriptions, and pottery were highly 

 encouraging ; but much still remains to be done. 



The number of separate objects incorporated in the collec- 

 tions of the several Departments during the year 1912 is as 

 follows : — 



Department of Printed Books : 



Books and Pamphlets - _ - . 30,916 



Serials and Parts of Volumes _ - _ 69,095 



Maps and Atlases ----- 3,736 



Music ------ 12,477 



Newspapers (single numbers) _ - _ 235,926 



Miscellaneous ----- 6,981 



Manuscripts and Seals - _ - _ 1,453 



Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts - - 2,144 



Prints and Drawings _ _ _ _ 5,469 



Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities - - . - 1,806 



Greek and Roman Antiquities _ _ - 1,014 



British and Mediaeval Antiquities and Ethnography 1,012 



Coins and Medals ----- 2,260 



Total - - . - 374,289 



