The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen

£4,750 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

the most famous archaeological discovery of the twentieth century First edition of the three-volume Tut-Ankh-Amen, Howard Carter's account of the most famous archaeological discovery of the 20th century. At the age of seventeen in 1891, Carter went to Egypt where he worked under Flinders Petrie. His great success in drawing the painted reliefs at Deir al-Bahri, Thebes led to his being appointed in 1899 the first chief inspector of antiquities in Upper Egypt, despite having no formal qualifications. His appointment proved a great success, however, and Carter discovered the tomb of King Tuthmosis IV in the Valley of the Kings. Carter's career took a downturn in 1905 when he was held responsible for a skirmish between foreign visitors and Egyptian antiquities guards, which resulted in Carter resigning from the antiquities service. 'Carter's rehabilitation came in early 1909 when, on the recommendation of Maspero, he began his association with George Herbert, fifth Earl of Carnarvon. Until the First World War they excavated in the Theban necropolis, making important, but unspectacular, discoveries. Carnarvon was then encouraged by Carter to apply for the concession for the Valley of the Kings, surrendered by Davis in 1914. The time was not right, and the prognostications for discovery were not favourable. Davis, Maspero, and others believed that there was nothing of importance left in the valley to be discovered. Carter thought otherwise. A short campaign by Carter in the tomb of

• Binding: Hardcover

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