[CARTER HOWARD]: (1874-1939) English archaeologist and Egyptologist, discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923. An interesting T.L.S., Alfred W. Fryzer, by the solicitor to Almina Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon, two pages (separate leaves), 4to, Arundel Street, Strand, London, 22^nd September 1930, to Howard Carter. Fryzer writes upon the instructions of Lady Carnarvon and forwards a cheque (no longer present) for £8,012.0.0, explaining 'As you know her Ladyship has recently received a sum of money from the Egyptian Government and she wishes to give you one quarter of the net amount which will remain to her thereout after discharging the various expenses in connection therewith' and further stating 'Lady Carnarvon, as I think you know, greatly appreciates the distinguished service you have rendered in the cause of scientific research and has many gratifying memories of your association with her late husband. I am to add that her Ladyship has paid to the Trustees of the late Earl of Carnarvon's estate so much of the money received by her from Egypt as is referable to the amount expended by the late Lord Carnarvon on the work in his life time, and it is her intention, when as she anticipates, she receives from the Trustees in her capacity of beneficiary under her late husband's will, the net amount remaining from this sum after payment of duties and expenses, to allocate 25% of this to yourself' before concluding 'Lady Carnarvon feels, however, in common with many others that the demands of the Government in connection with death duties never cease, and……she will ask you…..to agree to indemnify her to the extent of 25% of any further claim for duty that may be made on the late Earl's estate in any was connected with the Egyptian business'. With a holograph postscript signed by Fryzer with his initials. Together with Carter's retained typed copy of his letter of reply, one page, 4to, n.p., 22^nd September 1930, to Mr. Fryzer, thanking him for his letter and cheque and remarking 'I much appreciate the gift from Lady Carnarvon for I had and have no legal claim upon her or upon the late Earl of Carnarvon's estate in connection with the Tut-ankh-Amen business', and further agreeing to indemnify Lady Carnarvon to the extent of 25% of all future claims for duty on the late Earl of Carnarvon's estate in any way connected 'with the Egyptian business'. Also including one other related piece. Some light creasing and a few minor paperclip rust stains to the upper corners. About VG, 3

 

Almina Herbert (1876-1969) Countess of Carnarvon, wife of George Herbert, 5^th Earl of Carnarvon. The Countess was the illegitimate daughter of the banker Alfred de Rothschild, who provided her with considerable wealth which went towards funding the search for Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt. The Countess continued to provide financial support for Carter's excavation of the tomb until 1925, when she reached a settlement with the Egyptian authorities whereby she gave up any claim on the contents of the tomb in return for a compensation payment of £36,000. Despite her wealth, the Countess was declared bankrupt in 1951 and spent the last years of her life living in a terraced house in Bristol.

 

George Herbert, 5^th Earl of Carnarvon (1866-1923) English peer and aristocrat, financial backer of the search for and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.