British archaeologist and Egyptologist (1874-1939) whose discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt's 'Valley of the Kings' proved to be one of the signal events in the history of archaeology. ALS, three pages both sides, 5.25 x 7, Curna, Luxor, Egypt letterhead, January 21, 1934. Handwritten letter to Helen Ionides, in part: "Thank you indeed for your two most interesting letters…I also must thank you for the newspaper cuttings. The death of the Duchess of Alba was very sad—the more so, poor woman, she had been for years gradually fading away. T. B. is an awful disease. I fear I must admit that I have not the same sentiments with regard to Weigall. In fact his death is a real blessing. For although he was a clever writer, he was cunning. His inventions had no basis and thus a menace to Archaeology. Those of them for temporary excitement and amusement at the expense of others. The 'Tutankhamun Curse' was his invention. Believed out of pique—a sort of vengeance—towards his loyal friend Lord Carnarvon who, because Weigall came out solely as correspondent of the Daily Mail, was obliged to treat him like the other newspaper correspondents. He was never at the opening of the discovery. He was the last of the correspondents to arrive, several minutes afterwards. But enough of this venom I must direct to a more pleasant subject." Carter then moves on to discuss his colleague Newberry, his correspondent’s trip to Egypt, Ruth Draper ("a charming woman") and other matters. In fine condition.
Lord Carnarvon, the financial backer for the search for and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, had granted The Times exclusive access in exchange for £5000 plus 75% of profits generated from the King Tut story. Although this helped to finance the work, it created resentment both from other newspaper reporters—most notably Weigall, an Egyptologist covering the story for the Daily Mail—and from the Egyptian authorities, whose own press was also excluded. Weigall reportedly witnessed Lord Carnarvon joking as he prepared to enter the tomb, turned to a fellow reporter, and said: 'If he goes down in that spirit, I give him six weeks to live.' Carnarvon died after being bitten by a mosquito within the allotted time, and the 'curse of the pharaohs' was born.
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