The majority of these works represents the special interests of Prof. Hulsewé: Ancient Chinese law (at first Tang law, later Han law and Qin law), the history and archaeology of the Han dynasty, early history of the Western regions (Xinjiang).

The collection comprises 241 items. Of these, 65 items were not yet present in the Library of the Sinological Institute, 41 items are different editions of works already present in the Library (including some early editions of important studies) and the rest (135 items) are doubles. There are 59 Japanese items and 182 Chinese items.

Of these books, 69 items are bound in traditional Chinese fashion, of which 27 are block prints. These block prints are rather voluminous, especially Late Qing editions such as  Tongzhi 通志，Cefu yuangui 冊府元龜，Taiping yulan 太平禦覽，Wenxian tongkao 文獻通攷. The block prints take about half of the space of the entire collection.

There are also 28 off-prints of Japanese and 4 of Chinese articles, but these were not catalogued.

Many of the older books were probably acquired while Professor Hulsewé studied in China and Japan. The majority of the double books was bought during his professorship in Leiden; when ordering a copy for himself, he apparently also ordered a copy for the Library (or vice-versa). Many of the Japanese books and off-prints of articles have been donated to him by Japanese scholars.