GENERAL PROGRESS AT THE MUSEUM. 15 



The stall for the sale of photographs, guide-books, and 

 other official publications, mentioned in the Annual Report for 

 1912, has been strikingly successful. A return prepared in 

 November for the information of the Treasury showed an 

 increase of nearly 2,000^. in sales during the past 16 months, 

 as compared with the same period next preceding. The number 

 of picture post cards sold amounted to about 155,000. A 

 considerable extension of the stock of post cards sold in sets to 

 illustrate particular subjects, and also of larger photographs, 

 was in contemplation. It is to be observed that the existence 

 of the stall has greatly stimulated the sales of guide-books and 

 catalogues, as well as photographs. 



Excavations were continued at Jerablus, on the site of the 

 ancient Carchemish, during the spring and autumn, with most 

 successful results. Long ranges of bas-reliefs were discovered, 

 with figures and inscriptions in excellent condition, besides 

 some sculptures in the round and a considerable amount of 

 pottery. The continued generosity of the anonymous bene- 

 factor mentioned in the last Report makes it possible for the 

 Trustees to carry on these very important excavations. 



An officer of the Department of Printed Books was sent Lo 

 America to study the latest developments in the methods of 

 transporting books from the shelves to the readers, and to 

 consider their adaptability to the conditions of the British 

 Museum. 



Much inconvenience has been caused by the practice (due 

 to the suppression of the Stationers' Hall Register by the 

 Copyright Act, 1911) of sending commercial papers (labels, 

 advertisements, handbills, &c.) to the Museum for registration 

 as " printed books " under the definitions of that Act. 



The number of separate objects incorporated in the collec- 

 tions of the several Departments during the year 1 913 is as 

 follows : — 



Department of Printed Books : 



Books and Pamphlets _ _ - _ 38,116 



Serials and Parts of Volumes _ - - 78,597 



Maps and Atlases ----- 3,741 



Music ------ 12,223 



Newspapers (single numbers) _ - - 230,922 



Miscellaneous - _ _ - _ 8,624 



Manuscripts and Seals _ _ - _ 1,475 



Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts - - 3,512 



Prints and Drawings _ _ _ _ 8,410 



Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities - - - 5,346 



Greek and Roman Antiquities - - - 572 



British and Mediaeval Antiquities - - ' - 4,193 



Coins and Medals ----- 2,757 



Total - - - - 398,488 



Full lists of all noteworthy objects added to the collections 

 in the course of the year are given below in the reports from 



