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Portrætbillede af H.C. Andersen ved bord.

Photo: Ukendt

The world's written cultural heritage

In 1997, Hans Christian Andersen's letters and manuscripts in Royal Danish Library's collections were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World register of the world's documentary cultural heritage.

Billede af hjørnet på en gammel bog med gule sider.
The collection of H.C. Andersens manuscripts and letters by Royal Danish Library was included on the Memory of the World Register in 1997.

Photo: Det Kgl. Bibliotek

Memory of the World

UNESCO, the United Nations’ organisation for education, science and culture, was founded in 1945 to promote the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage through conventions and international programmes.

In 1992, UNESCO established the Memory of the World programme to make visible and protect manuscripts, archives, books and audiovisual collections that an advisory committee considers to be irreplaceable and have an exceptional significance for the world's common history and memory.

Hans Christian Andersen – the world's documentary cultural heritage

Denmark submitted proposals for the inclusion of 13 documents, manuscript and book collections and archives from national cultural heritage institutions in the first nomination in 1995. Four Danish collections were included in the register, including Royal Danish Library's collections of Hans Christian Andersen's original manuscripts and letters.

Papirklip af en dame i grøn kjole.
Large Woman in Green with Apron is one of Hans Christian Anderson's paper cutouts in the Portman collection, which was included in of the Memory of the World Register. The collection was acquired by Royal Danish Library in 1969.

Illustration: H. C. Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen’s letters and manuscripts were included in the Memory of the World Register in 1997. The inclusion only covered the Hans Christian Andersen manuscripts and letters that were part of the library’s collections in 1997. This included the Collin, Ny Kongelig Samling, Holger Laage-Petersen and Arne Portman Collections.

Hans Christian Andersen’s manuscripts and letters were included because they offer unique insight into the working process, life and times of one of the world’s best-known authors. The collection documents both the creation of his works and the people, relationships and environments that surrounded him.

The materials show more than just the finished works - they also reveal the creative process, from the first ideas and drafts to corrections and proofreading. Letters, diaries and personal notes also show the cultural and social life of the 19th century and about Hans Christian Andersen's national and international networks.

The inclusion on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register emphasises the importance of the collection as a unique source for understanding Hans Christian Andersen's writings and that time.

Tegning af en vogn i en notesbog med håndskrift.
Page from Hans Christian Andersen’s diary from his first trip to Germany in 1831, which formed the basis for his travel book Shadow Pictures of a Journey to the Harz Mountains. Often first written in pencil and then traced over in ink. The same diary was included in the UNESCO application.

Illustration: H. C. Andersen (1805-1875)

Explore more

In 2025-2027 we will digitise all of HC Andersen's manuscripts and letters. You can explore Royal Danish Library's digital collections online and see, how we have come.

See the digitisation of the Hans Christian Andersen collections here!