In re the Estate of Kallman

OPINION OF THE COURT

Millard L. Midonick, J.

In this vigorously and expertly litigated proceeding, the sole issue to be resolved concerns whether or not the decedent during his lifetime made an outright gift to the New York Public Library of the papers of Wystan Hugh Auden, the well-known poet. These papers consist of all manuscripts, letters, *340unpublished and published writings — all written materials belonging to him, found in his possession on his death. When assembled in Europe and finally delivered to the New York Public Library, which now claims as donee, those papers bulked to the point…