Bidspirit auction | PETRIE WILLIAM FLINDERS: (1853-1942)

PETRIE WILLIAM FLINDERS: (1853-1942) - PETRIE WILLIAM FLINDERS: (1853-1942) British Egyptologist, a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and the preservation of artefacts. A.L.S., Flinders Petrie , two pages, 8vo, Cannon Place, Hampstead, London, 3rd October n.y., to [Reginald ´Rex´] Engelbach. Petrie informs his correspondent that some of his people are expecting to go to Hemamieh to dry square a rock tomb, remarking ´I want them to practice in copying inscriptions. As the tombs there are not locked up I presume that there is no need for a formal permit to copy them´ and further providing the names of the party and explaining that they will be there from mid-November to mid-December ´& then go off to excavate a bronze age mound on the Palestine border´ . Petrie also adds that he ´expects to stay in Rome for the winter, for the sake of the only libraries that are in a decent climate´ and makes reference to a book which is now in the printer´s hands ( ´It has been a lively 8 or 9 months work for me altogether´ ) and concludes by writing ´I hope all goes well with you in Egypt. You know what will bring me back there, if I get the chances. Otherwise there are other things I want to do, both in Palestine & at home, and that bit of desert will never be worked by anybody´ . With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Reginald ‘Rex’ Engelbach (1888–1946) British Egyptologist and engineer who worked with Flinders Petrie before being appointed Chief Inspector of Upper Egypt for the Egyptian Antiquities Service in 1920.