Collection comprises drafts and handwritten copies of letters, as well as notes and inventories written and received by the British archaeologist Sir Charles Fellows (1820-1879). The letters and inventories describe Fellows's expeditions to Lycia, in present day Turkey, and most particularly, his excavation of Xanthus. Correspondence also concerns the display of Lycian artifacts at the British Museum.

Sir Charles Fellows (1799-1860) was an English explorer and archaeologist, best known for his expeditions in Asia Minor, especially in the district of ancient Lycia (in present-day Turkey). During his first journey to this area in 1838, he discovered the ruins of the ancient town of Xanthus. The publication in 1839 of his journal of this expedition aroused great interest, particularly at the British Museum, which requested that he bring artifacts back to England on subsequent voyages. The museum helped arrange a royal decree (firman) from the Sultan to enable Fellows to take away Lycian architectural remnants and sculpture. The firman was obtained in 1842 while Fellows was on his third expedition to the area. At the end of that year he shipped 78 cases from Xanthus to the British Museum. In 1844 he extracted an additional 27 cases of artifacts.

ca. 370 items (.5 linear ft.)

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