17 September, 1924
This year's collection is a very large one and owing to the circumstances in
which it was bought, time being insufficient for a preliminary sifting
out, it includes an unusually large proportion of worthless or comparatively
worthless fragmens. Since even scraps at first sight negligible prove
at times to contain valuable material (for instance, the Psalter fragment,
II,25, was found among the rubbish at the bottom of Box II) it was necessary
at least to look at every fragmen of any size, so that the work of damping
out and examination was a lengthy one. Very little time could therefore
be given to any single piece, and the descriptions and datings which
follow can even less than usual be regarded as authoritative. Mr. Milne
assisted in the examination of literary papyri, and some (but only a
selection) of the Demotic, Coptic, and Arabic papyri were examined by
Sir Herbert Thompson & Messrs. Crum and Fulton respectively.* On
the work of damping out and preparing Mr. Lamacraft reports as follows:-
The collection of papyri brought to the British Museum by Prof. Kelsey at the
end of May last has now been dealt with sufficiently to render the pieces
fit for description and valuation, before distribution amongst the syndicate
of purchasers.
The total number of pieces and fragments of a fair size handled exceed 4700
and of these over 4000 pieces have been relaxed, straightened out and
flatened. Many fragments have been joined up, and had time not been
so pressing many more pieces could have been identified and placed together;
but with such a large number of fragments (each of which had of necessity
to be handled at least 4 times during treatment) only very distinctive
pieces in the same box could be so brought together.
A proportion of the very dirtiest pieces have been washed and others badly
encrusted with crystals have been steeped in distilled water to remove
the bulk of the impurities. Some pieces badly joined together by the
Arabs have been lifted and righted; while other pieces specially made
up to deceive are left as specimens of faked pieces.
Although the work here reported has greatly increased the value and appearance
of the collection there are a large number which were in such deplorable
condition that they are still in need of a great deal of patient application
before being considered fit for mounting under glass.
Valuable assistance has been given by my colleague, Mr. A.J. Watson, when available
from other duties, and about 15% of the total have been dealt with by
him.
Chas. T. Lamacraft
H. I. Bell, Esq.
In making the distribution the better pieces have been assigned first, and
the later the less valuable ones. the smaller or more imperfect fragments
have benn made up in packets, varying in number roughly according to
the value of the fragments contained in them, and charged at a small
flat rate, since such fragments, though they may yield little of substantial
value, are useful for seminar practice. All the Boxes described were
acquired from Mr. Nahman except those otherwise described. In dates
Roman numerals refer to centuries (A.D. unless specially stated). Extreme
dimensions are given.
