SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTER BY CHAMPOLLION

CHAMPOLLION, JEAN FRANCOIS. (1790-1832). Decipherer of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Autographed Letter Signed ("j.f. Champollion lejeu").  Half-page, quarto, with integral address leaf (Paris, ca.1830).  To the naturalist Dureau de la Malle regretting a previous engagement preventing him from seeing Cuvier. (Small seal tear, very lightly browned, otherwise in excellent condition).  (Item L-Champollion100).

Letters of Champollion are extremely rare.

$4,500.00

SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTER BY LAYARD

LAYARD, AUSTEN HENRY.  (1817-1894). Author and excavator of Nineveh. Autographed Letter Signed "A.H. Layard," small 8vo, 8 pp., dated August 10, 1849. To Lady Canning. Sent from Erzeroom, reporting on early progress of his expedition whose purpose was to excavate a mound opposite Mosul on the eastern bank of the Tigris where he found Nineveh, uncovered the palace of Sennacherib and many extraordinary works of art, and discovered large numbers of cuneiform tablets. (Item L_Layard200).

Though Layard letters of his late years are easily found in the market, and usually of a social nature, letters written during his early archaeological career are quite rare.

$1,250.00