MS in Middle Egyptian on gold, Egypt, XIII dynasty, 1794-1645 BC, 1 partial sheet, 14x8 cm, single column, 1 column of formal hieroglyphs.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1990, in a wooden frame, in a cloth gilt folding case by Aquarius.

Provenance: 1. Canopic chest of Princess Nubhetepti-khred, Dacour, Egypt (ca. 1645 BC -1885 AD); 2. De Morgan's excavations, Dacour, Egypt (1885); 3. Jequier Collection and descendants (ca. 1900 - 1989); 4. Christie's 12.12.1989:126.

Commentary: The canopic chest of Princess Nubhetepti-khred is published in De Morgan's exavation reports: Feuilles a Dachour, 1885.

MS in Middle Egyptian on papyrus, Abydos, Egypt, mid 18th Dynasty, 15th c. BC, 2 large parts of a scroll, part 1: 16x91 cm, (14x91 cm), 43 columns of cursive hieroglyphs, large miniature, 14x23 cm, of the deceased between Anubis and Horus supervising the weighing of the heart against the figure of Maat, above 2 of the 42 gods who witness the judgement, another miniature, 5x18 cm, of 7 of the horned guardians of the gates.

Part 2: 14x34 cm, (13x34 cm), 12 columns of hieroglyphs, miniature 13x6 cm, of the deceased, another, 5x14 cm, of the bark of Ra surmounted by udjat eyes, part of a 3rd miniature, 2x6 cm, of a pottery jar, the miniatures painted in red, black, white, yellow and blue.

Context: There are other fragments from the same scroll in Cairo Museum, Egypt, Papyrus Museum, Syracus, Italy, and one fragments sold by Charles Ede Ltd.

Provenance: 1. Maurice Nachman, Cairo (1930'ies; 2. Charles Ede, London, cat. 151:38, part 2; 3. Sam Fogg Rare Books Ltd., London.

Commentary: The text of this papyrus is close in phrasing to the abbreviated version in the papyrus of Nebseny, British Museum, EA 9900, dated as early as mid 18th dynasty. The oldest Book of the Dead in private hands, and among the oldest literary MSS on papyrus. The earliest text is the "Pyramid Recension", carved in the pyramid of Unas at Saqqara, 24th c. BC, while the oldest Book of the Dead that has survived on papyrus, is 16th c. BC. The oldest illuminated MS in private hands.

Published: Barbara Lüscher: Der Totenbuch- Papyrus des Minherchetiu; in Studien zuraltägyptishecn Kultur, Band 36, 2006.

Exhibited: 1. Kon-Tiki Museet, Oslo, from April 2002; 2. Tigris 25th anniversary exhibition. The Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, 30.1. - 15.9.2003.

See also MS 1695, Sesh, Hieroglyph of "Scribe", Egypt, 1292-1069 BC

See also MS 126, Book of the Dead, Egypt, 1186-1069 BC

MS in Middle Egyptian and Greek on opaque red and turquoise glass, Cusae, Egypt, reign of Ptolemaios IV, 221-205 BC, 2 plaques, 5x11 cm, single column, 5 lines in cursive hieroglyphs and Greek uncial.

Binding: Barking, Essex, 1989, blue cloth gilt folding case by Aquarius.

Context: A similar green glass plaque with identical inscriptions is in New York: Metropolitan Museum, published in 1948 by W.C. Hayes. Another plaque, in gold, was published by Breccia in 1931, who also mentions a copy in clay.

Provenance: 1. Temple of Hathor, Cusae, Egypt (ca. 221 BC-1930); 2. Charles Rathon Collection Paris, (ca 1960-1988) 3. Christie's 12.12.1988:253+254.

Commentary: The present foundation plaques of the Hathor temple has been called "Miniature Rosetta stones", being bilingual with similar hieroglyphic and Greek texts. The deciphering of the hieroglyphs by J.F. Champollion in 1822, with the help of the 3-lingual Rosetta stone, found in 1799, could also have been performed with the help of these plaques. Both the Rosetta stone from 195 BC (Hieroglyphs, Demotic and Greek) and the present plaques contain the King's name Ptolemaios, which was the first word deciphered.

Published: J J Clère: Deux nouvelles plaques de fondation bilingues de Ptolémée IV Philopator, in Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde, vol. 90 pp 16-22, Berlin, 1963.

Exhibited: 1. Conference of European National Librarians, Oslo. Sept. 1994. 2. "Preservation for access: Originals and copies". On the occasion of the 1st International Memory of the World Conference, organized by the Norwegian Commission for UNESCO and the National Library of Norway, at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, 3 June - 14 July 1996.

MS in Middle Egyptian on linen, Egypt, 19th dynasty, 325-30 BC, 1 f., 19x64 cm, single column, (17x62 cm), 17 lines in a clear upright Hieratic script, reading from right to left.

Context: Another of Anch-Hepu's mummy bandages' set is at British Museum, M. London BM 75197.

Provenance: 1. Jacques Schulman, Amsterdam, list 236(1988):6.

MS in Middle Egyptian on wooden board, Egypt, 1st c. BC, 1 board, 16x13 cm, single column, 12 +10 lines in Hieratic script.

Provenance: 1. Charles Ede, London (ca. 1980-1986); 2. Bernard Quaritch Ltd, London (1986); 3. Moulton Collection, USA (1986-88); 4. Bernard Quaritch, London.

Commentary: Under publication by Professor W.J. Tait, University of Durham. This text is of considerable interest. It is the only text of its kind in Egypt, and throws new light on words and their meanings. Many words included are rare with hitherto unclear meaning, which now has been clarified. It is also extraordinarily late for the use of Hieratic script.

MS in Demotic and Greek on papyrus, Crocodilopolis, Egypt, 15 December 124 BC, 1 papyrus, 21x57 cm, single column, 10 lines in a Demotic documentary script. Text 2: In Greek, Hermonthis, 3 August 123 BC, 3 lines in a Greek cursive documentary script.

Context: From a hoard of 21 Greek and 31 Demotic, dated papyri, MSS 128-179.

Provenance: 1. Horus, son of Nechoutes, family archive, Gebelên, Egypt (ca. 140-89 BC); 2. Buried in a pottery jar in the sand at Gebelên, the site of the ancient Pathyris of the Thebaid (ca. 88 BC-1924); 3. Hadj Mansur Mahmûd, Luxor, Egypt (1924); 4. Elkan Nathan Adler, England (from 1924); 5. Dr. Martin Bodmer, Genève (until 1970); 6. H.P. Kraus Cat. 126(1971):96.

Published: The Adler Papyri, Oxford University Press, 1939 : D2.

MS in Demotic on papyrus, Pathyris, Egypt, 97-96 BC, 1 papyrus, 42x31 cm, single column, 12 lines in a Demotic documentary script.

Context: From a hoard of 21 Greek and 31 Demotic, dated papyri, MSS 128-179.

Provenance: 1. Horus, son of Nechoutes, family archive, Gebelên, Egypt (ca. 140-89 BC); 2. Buried in a pottery jar in the sand at Gebelên, the site of the ancient Pathyris of the Thebaid (ca. 88 BC-1924); 3. Hadj Mansur Mahmûd, Luxor, Egypt (1924); 4. Elkan Nathan Adler, England (from 1924); 5. Dr. Martin Bodmer, Genève (until 1970); 6. H.P. Kraus Cat. 126(1971):96.

Published: The Adler Papyri, Oxford University Press, 1939 : D14.