Description
RARE HANDWRITTEN LETTER WITH GREAT CONTENT: EGYPTOLOGIST FLINDERS PETRIE EXCAVATED THE TEMPLE SITE OF BIHAMU, TOWNS IN THE MEDINET EL FAYUM REGION (WHERE HE MADE MANY IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES), AND THE HAWARA PYRMAID FIELD. AT THE WRITING OF THIS LETTER HE HAD BEEN APPOINTED AS THE FIRST ENCUMBENT TO THE CHAIR OF EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND PHILOLOGY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON THAT HAD BEEN SET UP AND FUNDED IN 1892 BY A BEQUEST FROM AMELIA EDWARDS, THE ENGLISH NOVELIST, EGYPTOLOGIST, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE EGYPTIAN EXPLORATION FUND, WHO DIED SUDDENLY THAT YEAR. HE CONTINUED TO EXCAVATE IN EGYPT AFTER TAKING UP THE PROFESSORSHIP, TRAINING MANY OF THE BEST ARCHAOLOGIST OF THE DAY, INCLUDING HOWARD CARTER WHO WENT ON TO DISCOVER THE TOMB OF TUTANKHAMUN IN 1922.
SIR WILLIAM MATTHEW FLINDERS PETRIE (1853-1942) HANDWRITTEN LETTER SIGNED, "W. M. Flinders Petrie", 1 pg., 1 July 1892, Bromley, Kent, by the English Egyptologist and a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and preservation of artifacts. Many feel his most famous discovery to be the Israel Stele or Merneptah Stele now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. He was also the author of over 90 books. The letter to "Mr. Gibson", in part: "Thanks for your kind letter & congratulations, which I found on my return from Oxford to Bristol, to which I went to see after Miss Edwards' affairs. I am sorry that I have not had the chance of seeing you & your treasures before now, when I presume you have left. I shall be up on the 6th, & in case you are still in London I would look in there." In very good to fine condition, with a small stain to top edge, small hole at bottom left, and tiny chip to upper right corner.
$1900 #12378ZWBO
