Under this collection, we hold rare books dating from the mid-nineteenth century, including author-signed copies. Many of these volumes are scarce first editions or limited print runs, and several bear the autographs of their authors. The collection spans literature, history, philosophy, and art, featuring notable works in both English and vernacular languages. Several volumes were acquired from private collections, some of which belonged to prominent scholars and cultural figures of the era. All books are carefully preserved under controlled conditions and are accessible to researchers and scholars for study and reference.
ARC.RB.3276
Elleelah and Kissore
Bentley’s Miscellany, First edition, 1851, Ed, Charles Dickens et at.
The 1851 edition of Bentley’s Miscellany, edited by Charles Dickens and others, features a short story entitled “Elleelah and Kissore”. The story depicts two Meitei lovers, the gallantry of the Manipur Levy in 1825, and a rhinoceros hunt on the Manipur–Burma border.
An Excerpt:
“ ..a considerable force of the enemy was seen ascending the foot of the mountain; but nothing daunted by their formidable numbers, the brave Cassayers [Munniporeans] prepared to receive them…For three days the gallant Cassayers continued to repulse their ferocious invaders …The little force of the Cassayers amounted not to one tenth part of that of the Burmese, and it was resolved as the only resource to proceed immediately towards the British territories, and solicit their powerful assistance against their ruthless invaders.”
On display — Ground Floor
ARC.RB.3277
My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills
Sir James Johnstone (author)
London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company Limited, (Publisher)
First Edition, 1896.
xxvii, 286 p., 8 leaves of plates : ill.
23.5 x 4.0 cm (book measurement)
An Excerpt:
“After a day’s rest I paid a visit to the Maharajah, having first stipulated as to my proper reception. I was received by the Jubraj (heir apparent) at the entrance to the private part of the palace, and by the Maharajah a few paces from the entrance to the Durbar room (hall of reception), and conducted by him to a seat opposite to his own, with a table between us, his sons and officials being seated on either side. I read the Viceroy’s letter, informing the Maharajah of my appointment, and, after a short conversation, during which my age was asked (a question invariably put to European officers by Manipuris of rank), I took my leave, and was escorted back to the place where I was met on my arrival. I was favourably impressed by what I saw, but I at once realised that I was on no bed of roses, and that I would have to make a good fight to obtain and maintain my just influence with the Durbar.”
On display — Ground Floor
ARC.RB.3278
The Meitheis
T.C.Hodson, (author)
London: David Nutt (Publisher)
First Edition, 1908.
xvii, 227 p. : col. front., plates (partly col.) fold. map, facsim., fold. tab. ; 22 cm
On display — Ground Floor
ARC.RB.3279
My three years in Manipur and escape from the recent mutiny
Ethel St. Clair Grimwood, (author)
London: Richard Bentley and Son (Publisher) 1892 edition.
xii, 321 pages : illustrations, portrait ; 23 cm
On display — Ground Floor
Mrs. Grimwood (1867–1928) was the wife of the British Political Agent Frank St Clair Grimwood (1854–1891), who was executed in Manipur along with Chief Commissioner Quinton and other British officers for crimes against the Meitei monarch—an event that precipitated the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. Mrs. Grimwood fled Manipur and later wrote this memoir.The book sold out within a few days of publication.
ARC.RB.3280
Notes on the Thadou Kukis
William Shaw, (author), edited with introduction, notes, appendices, illustrations and index by J.H.Hutton
India: Government of Assam (Publisher)
First Edition, 1929
On display — Ground Floor
ARC.RB.527
Cheitharol Kumbaba
Transliterated by
Lairenmayum Ibungohal Singh
Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra
Imphal: Manipur Sahitya Parishad
First edition, 1967
This is the personal copy of Elangbam Rajanikanta Singh (R. K. Elangbam), a celebrated Manipuri writer who was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981 for his short story collection Kalenthagi Leipaklei. The book was donated to our library by his wife, Elangbam Ongbi Khuraijam Ibempishak Devi, in March 2021.
ARC.RB.001
The History of Manipur (An Early Period)
Wahengbam Ibohal Singh (Author)
Imphal: Manipur Commercial Co
First edition, 1986
This is the personal copy of Thoidingjam Suresh, author of The Rose and the Prince. The book was donated to our library by his wife, Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi, in March 2021.
ARC.RB.523
Imphal Amasung Magee Esing Nungsitki Phibam
Pacha Meitei (Author)
Imphal: Pass Publications (Publisher)
First edition, 1972
Imphal Amasung Magi Esing Nungsitki Phibam is a pioneering Manipuri novel by Pacha Meitei (Loitongbam Pacha Meitei). The novel is renowned for its use of the stream-of-consciousness technique and for winning the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973, making it the first Manipuri novel to receive this prestigious honour.
This copy was gifted by the author to Thoidingjam Tombi, a Manipuri artist, on 2 March 1973. The volume contains the author’s signature and handwritten inscription.
The book was donated to our library by Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi, in March 2021.
ARC.RB.096
Imphal Amasung Magee Esing Nungsitki Phibam
Pacha Meitei (Author)
Imphal: Pass Publications (Publisher)
First edition, 1972
Imphal Amasung Magi Esing Nungsitki Phibam is a pioneering Manipuri novel by Pacha Meitei (Loitongbam Pacha Meitei). The novel is renowned for its use of the stream-of-consciousness technique and for winning the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973, making it the first Manipuri novel to receive this prestigious honour.
This copy was gifted by the author to Elangbam Rajanikanta Singh, on 9 June 1973. The copy contains the author’s signature and handwritten inscription.
The book was donated to our library by Elangbam Ongbi Khuraijam Ibempishak Devi, on 3 March 2021.
ARC.RB.2496
The Dance In India
Faubion Bowers (Author)
New York: Columbia University Press (Publisher)
First edition, 1953
Faubion Bowers was born in Oklahoma in 1917. Since that time a third of his life has been spent abroad as a concert pianist in France and Switzerland, as a language student and college teacher in Japan and Indonesia before the war, as an officer in the United States Anny on almost every major island from Australia to Okinawa, as an aide to General MacArthur in Japan and later as censor of the Japanese theatre, and as a journalist from virtually every country of Asia, and most recently from Africa. For the last ten years he has devoted most of his attention to the dance and drama in Asia, not only in order to interpret those art forms to the West, but also to use them as a key to greater understanding of the people of Asia and to closer relations between the East and West. His recent book Japanese Theatre received both critical and popular acclaim. His numerous articles have appeared in The New Yorker magazine, The New York Herald Tribune, Theatre Arts magazine, and Dance Magazine, as well as in other American and Asian publications. His reputation as one of the world’s few authorities on Asian theatre forms gives his writing a pre-eminence enjoyed by few others and a special significance at the present time, when relations between the East and the West have become of such paramount interest.
ARC.RB.3281
Bugol Ahanba
( An Elementary Geography)
Laishram Jogeswar (Author)
Revised by R.K. Setu Singh, B.A. Land Settlement Officer, Imphal
Revised by S.J. Duncan, Sub- Divisional Officer, Manipur State (Hills)
Imphal: State Library (Publisher)
Third Edition: 1949
An Excerpt from S.J Duncan’s forward, 29 Aug 1937:
“….I believe it is the first geography of the Manipur State. The author has, I am sure, given a good deal of time and thought in the preparation and production of this book which is intended to be used as a text book in the lower classes of the State schools. The book does not claim to be exhaustive, but it contains enough information to enable the boys to learn a good deal about the geography of their own State. While dealing with a land dispute in the hills, an excited youth pushed himself towards me claiming that he knew the boundary of the land, and characterising the statements of the other party as a pack of lies. An old man from the opposite party very calmly told the youth to shut his mouth, adding that a so-called authoritative statement is quite unacceptable from a youth who has not even learnt the boundaries of the four walls of his own house. This illustration is only meant to emphasise the importance of knowing one’s own surroundings first before knowing the whole world at large. With this book the boys are first taken round their own State and then gradually led to Assam and then India and then the world.”
ARC.RB.0065

ARC.RB.0443
Kalenthagi Leibaklei
Arambam Samarendra (Author)
Published in Imphal 1993
Author Signed copy. This copy was a gift from Arambam Samarendra to Thoidingjam Suresh on 27 Feb 1996
ARC.RB.0957
Manipur To-day
Published by Th. Netrajit, Officiating General Secretary, on behalf of the Pan Manipuri Youth League, April 1971
ARC-RB-0455
Ashangba Nongjabi
Maharajkumari Binodini Devi
First Edition
1 April 1967
Imphal
Meiteirol, Bangala Script
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-1885
The Assam Election Manual 1940
The Assam Government Press, 1940
Shillong
English
Copy Note:-
This copy was the personal copy of Darbar Member Sougaijam Somorendro and was signed on 12 October 1948. He was a member of the constitution making committee of the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947. This copy may be used as a reference for the First Manipur Legislative Assembly elected under adult franchise in 1948.
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Sougaijam Ongbi Anuradha Devi
Call No: R74
ARC-RB-1928
Panchash Bachharer Premer Galpo
( Fifty Years of Love Stories)
Editor: Subir Raychaudhury
1960
Copy Note:-
This copy was the personal copy of Maharajkumari Binodini and was signed on 27 June 1962.
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-266
Khamba Thoibi Seireng
Hijam Anganghal
First Edition, 1964
Copy Note:-
This copy was the personal copy of R.K Elangbam
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Elangbam Ongbi Khuraijam Ibempishak Devi
ARC-RB-528
Khamba Thoibi Seireng
Hijam Anganghal
First Edition, 1964
Copy Note:- This copy was the personal copy of R.K Elangbam
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Elangbam Ongbi Khuraijam Ibempishak Devi
ARC-RB-948
The Thadou War (1917-19)
Khaikhotinthang Kipgen
First Edition, 1976
Copy Note:- This copy was the personal copy of Thoidingjam Suresh
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-98
Mapal Naidabasida Ei
Nongthombam Shri Biren
First Edition, 1989
Copy Note:- This copy was gifted by the author to Thoidingjam Suresh Singh on 12 Oct 1989
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-287
Manipur Itihas
First Edition, 1947
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-894
Govinda Sangeet Leela Vilasa
Pandit Brajabihari Sharma
First Publish, 1964
Copy Note:- This copy was the personal copy of Thoidingjam Suresh
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-458
Narasingh Awa Ngamba
Shri Ibungohal Singh Lairenmayum
Darbar Member,
1952
Copy Note:- This copy was the personal copy of Thoidingjam Suresh
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-1095
Dedicated to the Heroic Spirits
Third Mission to Collect the remains of War dead in the India area,
January to February 1978
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor: Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi
ARC-RB-2648
Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
Macmillan and Co, 1892
Provenance: acquired
ARC-RB-178
Ani Thoklabada
Copy Note:- This copy was gifted by the author to Rajanikanta Elangbam
Provenance: Donated to ARC Library & Archives
Donor:Elangbam Ongbi Khuraijam Ibempishak Devi
ARC-RB-3030
General Gordon
Lt. Colonel Seton Churchill
James Nisbet & Co,
Provenance: acquired
Macaulay’s Horatius;
With Maps and Notes,
And English-Gujaratee Vocabulary.
For the use of Anglo-Gujaratee Schools
Educational Society’s Press
Bombay, 1884
Provenance: acquired
The Advanced Research Consortium Library & Archives (ARCLA) was conceived in the social milieu of Manipur at a crossroads of the old and the new, a land in the birth pangs of resurgence and reinvention.
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