Postcard, Sphinx, Egypt, 1914-1918
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1914-1918
Sepia image of the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau, Egypt. The postcard is addressed to 'Florrie,' a possible reference to Florence Mary Peile who was John and Albert Peile's sister, and is signed by 'Charles.' It is unclear how Charles is connected, if at all, to the Peile family. The Great Sphinx was built in the quarry beside the pyramids of Giza, close to the Valley Temple of Khafre, a Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom.
The Great Sphinx is believed to have been the oldest in Egypt and spent much of its existence covered by the desert sand. Although uncovered during ancient times by Thutmose IV, and the subject of several subsequent attempts, it was not until 1936 that the Great Sphinx was completely exposed. The Great Sphinx in the image has not been completely uncovered, although it shows evidence of Gaston Maspero's 1885 excavation work. Younger brother Albert enlisted first.
He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Their mother died only a few years later in 1926, aged 73. Their niece was Mrs M. J. Hitchens, the donor. Sepia image of a large sphinx wearing the nemes headdress and partially covered by sand. In the foreground stands a man, facing the front, wearing native dress and holding the reins of a camel. A second camel stands in the lower right corner.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- overall dimensions: 88 mm (Width), 135 mm (Height)
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- Printed in black ink on the front of the postcard: 'Cairo - Sphinx' Hand-written in pencil on the back of the postcard, left hand side: 'I am sending / a Christmas / Present in a / few days love / I won't mention / what it is dear / hoping you will / get it before / Christmas' Hand-written in pencil on the back of the postcard, right hand side: 'To Florrie / From / Charles'
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-1922464
- Museum object name
- Postcard - 'Sphinx', Egypt, Charles to Florrie, World War I, 1914-1918
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- HT 32611
- Published references
- Allen Winston, 'The Great Sphinx of Giza: An Introduction,' TourEgypt.com, at: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/sphinx1.htm accessed: June 15, 2012 For Albert Peile's war record see the National Archives of Australia website at: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8010747 For John Peile's war record see the National Archive of Australia website at: http://recordsearch.naa
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.