Written at Molyvopyrgos, and posted in Salonika [Thessaloníki]. About progress on the excavation [at Meciberna/Molyvopyrgos in Chalkidiki], archaeological finds, cold weather (asking Herbert to “tell Dicky I haven’t undressed for four days!”), that the journey there was difficult as they had to push the car up every hill, and that he would be sorry to leave as the men were “delightful” including one who had adopted John. Also criticising an excavation by [David] Robinson [under the American School of Classical Studies] in Olynthus, which John describes as “probably the worst dig in history”. John labelled the letter as written on “Sunday 18th”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as March.

Written at Molyvopyrgos. About progress on the excavation at Molyvopyrgos [in Chalkidiki], that they had found a new stratum of Early Helladic pottery, the bad weather, and plans to move to Hagios Mamas (about 3 miles away, near Olynthos) the next day. John also describes “the most extraordinary characters”: a landowner called Palamides who was known as “fur neck” because of his coat collars who tried to sell a coin to [Charles] Seltman; “the Comic Bethren” who lived in a house that the excavation used a room of, and spent most of their time in bed; “The Kaiser” who also lived in the house and took his mule, fowls, pig, goat and a couple of oxen for walks; and the old gentleman who had adopted John and now had been named “the Colonel”. Additionally asking Herbert to pay the entrance fee and enter John into [Amateur Athletics Association] high jump competitions in June and July, and thanking him for sending details of [Cambridge University Athletics Club] competitions. John labelled the letter as written on “Monday 26th”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as March.

Written at Myriophyto, Chalkidiki. About progress on digging trial pits at Myriophyto (Hagios Mamas near Olynthos) including finding vases “which succeed in giving a lot of evidence for the Anatolian origin of the Greek race”, the journey through floods from Molyvopyrgos to get there, their accommodation in a house belonging to “Professor Ridgeway”, plans to either excavate another mound on the way or Salonika [Thessaloníki] or go straight to Salonika [Thessaloníki] when they finished. John also mentions that he waded into the Olynthos river to photograph “Refugees or the Tribal Migration” [see PEN 2/2/1/272 for the photograph], that Radford [part of excavating party for the BSA] talked too much, and the weather had improved.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Outlining plans for trips in the Peloponnese and Crete, and his plans when he arrives in the United Kingdom. John’s planned journey in the Peloponnese comprised visits to Olympia, Andhristseana [Andritsaina], Bassae, Megalopolis, Karytaena [Karytaina], Kalamata [Kalámai], Ithome, Sparta and Tripolis [Trípolis]. He then planned to return to Athens briefly before going to Crete to see [Arthur] Evans and help him on an excavation [at Knossos], visit Hagia Triadha [Agía Triáda] and Phaestos [Faistós], and do some museum work [to finish off his notes for ‘Aegyptiaca’]. He was then to return to Athens and travel back to the United Kingdom, staying in London for the [Amateur Athletics Association] Middlesex championships before going to Malvern. John mentions that if Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] couldn’t come [to the Amateur Athletics Championships] then [Charles] Seltman would probably come. John was having lunch with the Seltman’s that day, going to Marathon with them on Saturday, and they were also going to watch him do the high-jump [in Athens]. John states that his notes [on archaeological finds of Egyptian origin in Greece] were complete except for items he would see in Crete and some work to be done in the [British Museum] and in Cambridge. John also mentions: he had just received a letter from Herbert and was sorry to hear about Mrs Dickinson [Mabel Dickinson’s mother?] and he doesn’t think something could be true about Maude [?]; he hopes the cats in Malvern don’t scratch like the ones in Athens; that if Herbert sees Nokie [?] he should pretend that John had sent Herbert a copy of his letter by accident as it was “very vulgar”; and he hopes that Herbert had a good weekend in [London], asks what he thought of ‘The Vagabond King’ [operetta] and says he’ll compare notes on Vine street and Bow street [in London] with Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son] when they meet. John labelled the letter as written on “Thursday”.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Thanking Herbert and Dickie for letters, stating that he had just returned [to Athens] from Olympia and Sparta [Peloponnese trip] and was going to Crete on Friday, outlining his plans for the return journey to the United Kingdom (on the Simplon Orient [boat]) and saying that he had “fixed up with the Seltmans for May week” [in Cambridge]. Also requesting copies of archaeological books by [Arthur] Evans, [Hans] Frankfort and [Carl] Blegen and some ‘Occasional Papers of the Royal Anthropological Institute’.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Informing Herbert that he would arrive back to London on the 29th [of May] and hoped to stay at [the Oxford and Cambridge] club; and telling him that the trip to Crete was an “immense success” and Arthur Evans had suggested excavating below the central court at Knossos or at Komó [was port to the Libyan sea] on the south coast. He says of Knossos that “Evans seems to be rebuilding the palace completely in the most splendid style!” Also asking Herbert to bring clothes to London and arrange for shoes to be made, and saying he would love to be in a pageant but might not be able to rehearse as we was running [the high-jump] at Oxford [for the Amateur Athletics Association] on the 23rd [of June].

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club (London). Telling Herbert about his engagement to Hilda, saying that Hebert would probably like to meet her and to tell Dicky [Mabel Dickinson] that though Hilda was an “archaeologist who took a first, she wears neither blue stockings nor horn-rimmed spectacles!” Also asks Herbert to send him the ‘A catalogue of the Cyprus Museum’ by [John N] Myers. Undated, but annotated [in a later hand] as “June 1928”.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Asking Herbert if he could come [to Malvern] on the weekend of the 14th [of Jul] and to send catalogues to John in London. Also discussing his work at the British Museum and that he would have to get [‘Tell el Amarna’] by Petrie, saying everyone at George’s asked about Herbert, and asking Herbert if he would come [to London] for the Varsity match and society dinner.

Asking if he and Hilda [White] could come to visit tomorrow for Herbert and Dickie to meet Hilda, and telling Herbert about their plans to get married in March [1929] and to spend their honeymoon looking at possibly excavation sites in the South of Crete; discussing athletics and how he felt old in comparison to young high jumpers, but that he was very happy; asking if any post had arrived from Greece; discussing his work on [‘Aegyptiaca’]; telling Herbert he had a nice letter from [Walter] Heurtley who was concerned about David Robinson who was excavating at Olynthos, and [Sylvia] Benton and Radford who had gone to the Mountains of Epiros.

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge. Asking Herbert to send 3 books of photographs; discussing that he had not done well [in the high jump] the previous day but that he and Van Geyzel were going to train together; and telling Herbert that the Seltmans [Charles and Isabel] were keen to go to Komó [Kommos] with John [and Hilda] and wanted to share expenses.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Thanking Herbert for a letter, discussing his and Hilda [White’s] decision to get married, that they had enjoyed visiting [Herbert and Dickie in] Malvern and that he wouldn’t travel to [to Caldy] until a week on Monday, to give Hilda time with her mother; also telling Herbert that they met Mr Wilcock who gave them tickets for [cricket] at Lords, and that he tried to see Sir Frederick Kenyon but he was away.

Sent from New University Club, London. Telling Herbert that he had met Uncle Stanley in London who would give John a large camera; that he had seen the bank manager and arranged accounts in Athens and Cairo and a joint letter of credit for John and Hilda; that he would have lunch with Pat [Shackleton] at the hospital, and Aunt Helen would have lunch with John at Jules [restaurant]; recommending a book (‘The Broken Cup’ by E O Brown) and telling Herbert that he had written thank you letters for 2 presents.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Thanking Herbert for a letter, and saying he would go to [Malvern] on Friday evening; telling Herbert that he had heard from [Hans] Frankfort who was keen that Hilda should go to Egypt with John, about his and Hilda’s plans to go straight to Komó [Kommos] instead of to Mycenae, about frustrations with getting material for [‘Aegyptiaca’], and that [Winifred] Lamb had been to dinner with John, Hilda and the Seltman’s and they had helped her with classifying Cretan pottery in the Fitzwilliam [Museum, Cambridge]. Also mentioning that he was about to go to a feast, and that [a holiday in] Swanage would be excellent.

Written from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Enclosing (not present) a letter from Uncle Howson (and John says he doesn’t think it ? is worth it). Also telling Herbert that Bob [Dixon] had secretly married Ismene Melas; and that he had been to the [British Museum] and saw [Frederic G.] Kenyon who was in a rush because the King of Spain was visiting. John also states that it was a “great show at the Bridge yesterday” and that he would be at 39 Barton Road [Cambridge] until Tuesday.

Sent from 39 Barton Road, Cambridge. Telling Herbert that he and Hilda [White] had decided to get married in September [1928, rather than Mar 1929] as it would fit in better with their plans; also telling Herbert that he had been to see the “Old Man” [Henry Comber] who was worried about Bob [Dixon’s] marriage, that the Seltman’s were very kind and trying to encourage John and Hilda to live in Cambridge for part of the year, and that Hilda had bought him a Cretan seal stone. Also mentioning that he hoped Herbert and Dickie got the letter before going to Caldy for a gathering of Hilda and John’s families, that he may not be able to come to Swanage because of the change in date of the wedding, that S. C. Roberts and [Henry Comber] sent their love, and sending his love to Dickie.

Sent from 39 Barton Road, Cambridge. Asking Herbert to send his Middlesex zephyr as well as letters, and answer an invitation on his behalf. Also mentions that John had seen Jim [?].

Sent from Broughshane, Caldy. Thanking Herbert for letters, and telling him that he and Hilda had fixed the date of the wedding for the 15 Sep and discussing travel plans after the wedding; telling Herbert that he was having a good time in Caldy and had been able to find references easily in a library in Liverpool, that he and Hilda were to see [Hans] Frankfort and [Alan] Wace in [London], and that they had been doing work on Amarna and Egyptian art. Also asking if Hilda could go to [Malvern] to work on sherds with John.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Telling Herbert about his plans to go to [Malvern] and that he had just received a letter from [Arthur] Evans who had “put a damper” on possible excavations at Komó [Kommos], and that John had replied to the letter and was going to see Evans on his way back from Malvern. Also discussing progress with his work [on ‘Aegyptiaca’], that Hilda had left the day before [for Caldy], that he and Hilda had tea with [Hans] Frankfort to make arrangements for Egypt (there would not be room for Hilda at Erment, but she would go to El Amarnah [Amarna]), and mentioning he was going to Cambridge the next day.

Written from the Goring Hotel [London] and [the Orient Express train to Greece], just after John and Hilda’s wedding. About their luggage, giving their addresses (Hotel Majestic, Athens and Hotel Majestic, Salonika [Thessaloníki]), hoping everyone had enjoyed the wedding and that they got home safely, and saying how nice he thought it was. Also telling Herbert that they had dined at Claridges (and were the only ones there); asking him to write to Pat [Shackleton] at George’s and find out how much John owed him, to let him know how “the old man” was, to give Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] his love and “tell her to be good”, and to give Will his love and a golf club. Undated, but annotated [in a later hand] as “September 1928”.

Sent from the Hotel Majestic, Athens. Letting Herbert know that he and Hilda had arrived and telling him about the journey, payments to customs, the hotel, that there was dengue fever in Athens and some of the maid at the [BSA] had had it but didn’t seem worried, the weather, and their plans to travel to Mycenae the next day.

Written from Xylokastro [Xilókastron]. Describing their [John and Hilda’s] honeymoon in the Peloponnese, travelling nearby with Spiro [Dassis] and Michaelis as guides. They went to Nemea [Neméa], Hagios Georgios, Bostika (beyond Phlious [Flioús]), Psari, Stymphalos, Goura, valley of the Zarouebla [Zarouxla?], Solos (and nearby waterfalls), Kalavryta [Kalávrita], Megaspelaion monastery, Diakoptou, and Xylokastro [Xilókastron]. Also asking Herbert to ask Taylor [shop] to send him some gum for his shoe. With a hand drawn map of their route and another crossed out doodle.

Sent from Hotel Majestic, Athens. Informing Herbert that he and Hilda had arrived back in Athens from their honeymoon in the Peloponnese, and were setting off to Salonika [Thessaloníki] in 2 days (there was a slight risk of Dengue fever but they weren’t too worried because there was an international fair on and so it should be taken care of, or they would be “in good hands” if they did get it). Also telling Herbert that a letter from him with enclosures from [Arthur] Evans and SC [Roberts] had not arrived but he had written to Evans and SC [Roberts]; that John had letters from SC [Roberts] to Herbert and from Nikolaos Saradakis (Pachyammos [Pacheía Ámmos], Crete) wishing them good luck [with the wedding]; and that he had bumped his head badly in the car on the way back to Athens from Xylokastro [Xilókastron]. Additionally asking Herbert to give John a catalogue when SC [Roberts] had finished with it.

Sent from Hotel Majestic, Athens. Informing Herbert that his letter with enclosures [from Arthur Evans and SC [Roberts] had just arrived with a letter from Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] to Hilda. They had been held up as they did have enough or any stamps on. Telling Hebert about a book that Hilda had got of Greek scenery and architecture with James Frazer’s signature inside (dated 1899); asking if he had got books by [Heinrich] Schliemann on Troy and Tiryns; and telling him they were leaving for Salonika [Thessaloníki] the next day.

Sent from Hotel Majestic, Salonika [Thessaloníki]. Telling Herbert they had arrived and started work on [sorting out the sherds from the excavation in Chalkidiki, Mar-Apr 1928], the Heurtley’s [Walter and Eileen] had already arrived but Mrs Heurtley had malaria, and [R W] Hutchinson [‘the Squire’] was also there; about sending letters to the right address, the weather, that they had not had Dengue fever but had heard of 5 cases of bubonic [plague] in Athens, and plans to stay in Salonika [Thessaloníki] until the 20th [of Oct].

Sent from Hotel Majestic, Salonika [Thessaloníki]. About work with sherds [from the excavation in Chalkidiki, Mar-Apr 1928], that they had driven to see a mound that [Walter] Heurtley wanted to excavate in the Spring, and telling Herbert that he had received his letter and [answering questions] by informing him that: he and Hilda were returning to Athens on the 20th [of Oct]; they had been readmitted [to the BSA] but not made life members; and Hilda is from Lancashire with Irish ancestry. Also asks about books he had given to a binder, for Herbert to send [‘Travels and Researches in Crete’] by Spratt to Athens, and jokes in response to Herbert writing that a tough man in a 15 year old Rolls Royce full of bloodcurdling stories of Kenya had turned up (jokes that it would be cheaper than petrol). Additionally recounting a letter of complaint John had written to the Haymarket [Hotel, London] who had repaired his watch, and telling Herbert about his photos of Arcadia and that Hilda had a cold.

Sent from Hotel Majestic, Salonika [Thessaloníki]. About the work John and Hilda were doing drawing sherds, plans to travel back to Athens and meet [Stephen] Glanville in Piraeus on his way to Egypt, and for John and Hilda to go to Egypt later. Also thanking Herbert for his letters and asking him to send typescripts of his catalogue [‘Aegyptiaca’] to the BSA. Additionally telling Herbert about an offer Hilda had from Winifred Lamb to excavate at Mitylene [Lésvos]; that they had been to the [international] exhibition in Salonika [Thessaloníki] and bought Greek, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian and Croatian embroideries; they were going to see the ‘Oresteia’ [trilogy of Greek tragedies] featuring Marika Kotopouli; and Hilda had recovered from Malaria.

Written in Piraeus whilst John was waiting for [Stephen] Glanville, with a note added at the end that Glanville and [Alan] Shorter were 4 hours late, they had lunch and then John took them to the Acropolis. Giving news of people connected to the BSA and telling Herbert that he and Hilda were doing work, Hilda had begun working on a catalogue of Aegean [archaeological finds] in Crete, they were travelling to Egypt on the Khedivial Mail [steam ship] and would be staying at the Windsor Hotel in Cairo, the weather was cool in Athens and the BSA was “a very pleasant place”, and that [Stephanos] Xanthoudides (Director of the Candia museum) had died so John didn’t think he would get the photographs he had asked for. Of people connected to the BSA John states: [Winifred] Lamb had gone to Mitylene [Lésvos, to excavate] “in a great fuss”, [George Francis] Hill [Keeper of Coins and Medals department, British Museum] was staying at the school, [Bernard] Ashmole [from the British School at Rome] was staying at the [American School of Classical Studies], and [Walter] Heurtley was arriving back from Salonica [Thessaloníki]. Also thanking Herbert for his letter and [‘Travels and Researches in Crete’] by Spratt, asks Herbert to get [‘Troy and its remains’] by [Heinrich] Schliemann, and says that he and Hilda got a book of plates illustrating Aegean decorative art which they were annotating.

Comprises a postcard with an image of the Erechtheion (Acropolis, Athens). Telling Herbert that a typescript had arrived safely, that he [and Hilda Pendlebury] were leaving for Egypt the next day, that the weather was good so it should be a calm sea for their journey to Egypt, Hilda was starting a catalogue of Aegean [archaeological finds] in Egypt, and that [Walter] Heurtley was to arrive back [to Athens] that day. Also discussing plans for Herbert to visit John and Hilda in Egypt or Greece, asking him to send a Swedish-English dictionary to Egypt, saying he already had “Frankfort’s pottery” and telling Herbert to give a gramophone [away?].

Sent from Windsor Hotel, Cairo. Telling Herbert that he and Hilda had arrived in Cairo; [Stephen] Glanville and [Alan] Shorter had taken them to see the Pyramids by moonlight; they had seen artefacts from the Tutankhamen tomb in the Cairo museum which were “too wonderful for description” and that the rest of the museum was badly organised; [Stephen] Glanville had gone to Armaneh [Amarna] to do some “private scratching under the stelae”; and both Shorter and Hilda were ill, Shorter with Dengue fever and Hilda with malaria. Also mentioning that he had met [Hans and Jettie] Frankfort the previous day, and that they hadn’t had a chance yet to see Kathleen [Hargreaves, John’s cousin].

Sent from Hotel Windsor, Cairo. Mainly about John and Hilda [Pendlebury’s] plans in Egypt, and their activities since they arrived. They had been to dinner with Kathleen [Hargreaves, John’s cousin] and her husband (Lionel) and were planning to go to Saqqara [Ṣaqqâra] the next day by camel from the Pyramids of Giza. They were to travel to Luxor on the 14th [of Nov], then around the 21st [Nov] John would go to Armant (to the Egyptian Exploration Society excavation) and Hilda would return to Cairo. Hilda was going to live very close to Kathleen [Hargreaves]. Reporting that Hilda was better from having a fever, that Hilda was having difficulty with getting a card to access the museums as she was not a member of the archaeological excavation, that John thought the Cairo was “a dreadful place…life is one long demand for money” and that the museum was “magnificent but far too full of the wrong things”, and they were both homesick for Greece John also mentions that [Alan] Shorter [who was travelling to the Armant excavation with John] had recovered, and asks Herbert to let him know the results of Intervarsity contests [athletics]. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “1928, on arrival from Greece, November?”

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Telling Herbert he had arrived at [Armant] and about the excavation, including that they had made good discoveries (and disproved Howard Carter’s cynicism) and John had found a completely new use of a hieroglyph. Also mentioning that [Hans] Frankfort was to look at John’s [‘Aegyptiaca’] catalogue, Hilda [Pendlebury] was in Cairo and about her research, and John still missed Greece. Additionally reminding Herbert to tell him the results of Varsity and College contests [athletics]. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “1928”.

Sent from Luxor [during the Armant excavation, Egypt]. Wishing Herbert a happy birthday; telling him about a huge sandstorm at the excavation, progress with the dig and that John was the official photographer; asking Herbert to put Greek stamps he was sending into an album, and to send a new book on Amarna paintings which the [Egyptian Exploration Society] were publishing and [‘Egyptian Decorative Art’] by [W. M. Flinders] Petrie.

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Telling Herbert about the camp and work (which would continue until the second week in January), that Hilda [Pendlebury] was coming to the camp for Christmas, and that he had written to S. C. [Roberts] and received a letter from Alan Wace. Also asking Herbert to suggest some Roman Emperors. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “1928”.

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Wishing Herbert a Happy Christmas and telling him about plans for Hilda visiting the camp over Christmas, and about progress on the excavation. Also mentioning that he would meet Hilda in Luxor, [Stephen] Glanville was leaving shortly after Hilda so they would use his tent, the Daily Telegraph were publishing the reports of the excavation, he had a bet on a Varsity match with Glanville, and hoping a law suit had gone well for Herbert and he wished he could be home for Christmas. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “Dec 1928 to May 1929”.

Telling Herbert about [Stephen] Glanville encouraging him to apply for a job at the [British Museum] and that Glanville would be writing to John after he had seen Hall, and discussing his concerns and the pros and cons of the job. Also asking Herbert to thank Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] for a book; thanking him for remarks about Roman Emperors; telling Herbert he had heard from S. C. [Roberts, of Cambridge University Press] about the costs of production [of ‘Aegyptiaca’] and mentioning the list of images he had asked [Arthur] Evans’ permission to use; mentioning that he would write “character sketches of the party” in his next letter, that Hilda had brought luck to the dig as they had found a lot of items after she had arrived, and that an old gentleman working at the excavation had been complimentary about Hilda; and mentioning that Herbert should tell the Perrins [Mr Dyson and family] his address so they could write when they arrived in Luxor.

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Thanking Dickie for letters; telling her about his and Hilda’s plans to go to Amarna via Kosseir and to walk most of the way; saying he hoped that [Herbert Pendlebury] would be able to come to Greece, and that he and Hilda should be back there by the middle of April [1929]; mentioning that he had heard from Dyson Perrins who he wanted to visit the excavation to try to get funding from him; telling her about work on the excavation, that the camera that Uncle Stanley gave him had been very useful, that the weather was cold and that the post was erratic. Also asking Dickie to pass on a message about [the publication of ‘Aegyptiaca’] and saying he had got letters from Pip [Powell] and Tom [Livingston-] Learmonth].

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Mainly giving detailed descriptions other people at the excavation: [Hans and Jettie] Frankfort, [Brian and Molly] Emery, [Alan] Shorter, and [Stephen] Glanville. Also telling Herbert that they had nearly finished work on the excavation and were clearing up; that the dig had been “sensational” and he hoped news about it had been in the Telegraph newspaper; that he had heard from Pip [Powell] who “seems to have enjoyed himself – though to have behaved badly”, and that he hoped a law case went well for Herbert.

[Sent from Armant excavation, Egypt]. Thanking Herbert for [a book by James Henry] Breasted; discussing a job prospect with the British Museum which [Hans] Frankfort thought John should accept it as he could walk away at any time, but that John had doubts about as he would have to work so hard at the language [Arabic or Ancient Egyptian?] that he wouldn’t be able to work in Greece, so was planning to use the offer [from Stephen Glanville] as a lever to secure a job in Greece with Arthur Evans; mentioning that he hoped Herbert had seen a report in the Telegraph [about the excavation at Armant] on 3 Jan which he had taken the photographs for using Uncle Stanley’s camera; telling Herbert about plans for the Perrins [Mr Dyson and family] to visit [Armant] that day and for he and Hilda to have dinner with them, his and Hilda’s plans to go to Kosseir and on to Amarna (where work would start on the 1st of Feb), and their plans for travelling back to Athens in Apr to meet Herbert and Dickie and then for them all to go to Crete, some islands and the mainland. Also mentioning that hockey sticks had been sent to the camp, that he wanted to know if Herbert had a list of illustrations that John wanted from [Arthur] Evans [for use in ‘Aegyptiaca’], and he wanted his typescript [of ‘Aegyptiaca’ back from S. C. [Roberts] in order to make corrections. Annotated in a later hand: “Jan. before knee trouble which prevented the Kosseir trip and kept John in bed at Savoy Hotel for a week or more”.

[Sent from Savoy Hotel, Luxor]. Telling Herbert about his damaged knee, that they hoped to get back to Greece by the middle of April and were looking forward to seeing Herbert and Dickie [in Greece], and saying he had heard from Charles Seltman who was trying to discourage John from working with the [British Museum]. John writes that he was using [the job offer from Stephen Glanville to work for the British Museum] as a lever [to get other job offers], which he thought would work. Annotated in a later hand as “Luxor, Savoy Hotel, January”.

Written from the Savoy Hotel, Luxor [where John was recuperating from a knee injury after the end of the Armant excavation]. Telling Herbert that he and Hilda [Pendlebury] planned to travel to Amarna in a week; about [Stephen Glanville’s encouragement for John to work for the British Museum] being useful leverage for securing archaeological jobs [in Greece]; that he had written to [Arthur] Cook about the Walston studentship [from Cambridge University]; and about [Arthur] Woodward leaving Athens [and his Directorship of the BSA] so there could be more opportunities (“there may possibly be a stop to the discouragement of the young”). Also mentions that he and Hilda were planning on travelling to Rhodes on the 9th of Apr [1929] and then to Athens; they had written to Jim [?] and got no reply; that Seth Smith [John’s doctor] wished to be remembered to Herbert; and that he was glad about Robin’s [John’s step-brother] certificate and asks Herbert to congratulate him and “hit him over the head for me! also Derek”. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “Jan 1929”.

Written from Aswan, where Hilda and John were staying before travelling to Amarna. About staying at the Hotel Cataract, having visited Elephantine island [Jazїrat] and been sailing, and plans to visit Philae, the [Aswan Low] Dam and quarries [of Aswan]. Also telling Herbert: that his knee was nearly better; that [Stephen] Glanville had written to [Hans] Frankfort about hieroglyphics [found at Armant] which named the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and asking if Diocletian had another name like Nero; that he thought his “bluff” of pretending he may accept a job at the [British Museum] would have worked in soliciting job offers from [Stephen] Glanville and [Arthur] Evans to continue working in Egypt and Crete; that learning Egyptian was going well; about the weather having been cold all winter; and that he was pleased that Robin [his step brother] had been made a prefect [at school]. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “Feb? 1929”.

[Sent from Amarna, Egypt.] Discussing his job prospects: that he had letters from [Stephen] Glanville urging him to apply for [a job and the British Museum] but that he had declined the offer; that he’d had a letter from [Arthur] Evans advising John to take the job at the British Museum as there were not many opportunities in Aegean archaeology; and that [Hans] Frankfort had sent a telegram to [Humfry] Payne as soon as they had heard he’d been elected [to the Directorship of the British School at Athens] recommending John for the Assistant Director. Also thanking Herbert for letters with enclosures and a typescript [of ‘Aegyptiaca’]; saying he was sorry that Herbert [and Dickie] would no longer be coming to Greece [in Apr 1929], and that they were sorry about a shawl that was meant for Dickie; saying that they had an adventurous and expensive time in Assuan [Aswan], had arrived safely back to Luxor, then go on to [Amarna] where the excavation was already well underway and interesting. Annotated in a later hand as “Feb 17th or 18th”.

Sent from Amarna, Egypt. Telling Herbert about work on the excavation and discussing career prospects: he had written to Le Fanu [Secretary at the British School at Athens] about applying for the Macmillan studentship; [Stephen] Glanville had written to John and was very sorry that he had declined the job offer at the British Museum; [Hans] Frankfort was encouraging and thought John who have a good chance of getting the Macmillan studentship. Also thanking Herbert for letters and saying Hilda would write when she heard from him; telling Herbert he hoped Hall would write the forward to [‘Aegyptiaca’], that Bob Dixon was applying for the Diplomatic [Service] and John had a received a letter from “the old man” [Henry Comber] despairing about it, and that he hoped Dickie’s troubles were over. Additionally asking if Dickie could a tell Will [?] that Nowell Chiltern (a friend of John’s and Stephen Glanville’s who worked at Addenbrokes) was going to be “out there” soon, to join the Medical Service.

Sent from Tell el Amarna [Amarna], Egypt. Telling Herbert about an encouraging letter he had from [Alan] Wace advising him on career prospects including: suggesting he explore Andros [Ándros], Chios and Icaria [Ikaría]; suggesting he enter [‘Aegyptiaca’] into the Hare Prize; suggesting John contact [Carl] Blegen in Greece (though Frankfort advised against excavating with Blegen as he was too selfish); and saying he had been making enquiries in Cambridge on John’s behalf. Also telling Herbert about work at Amarna including photographs of a “little statuette” and John wearing a necklace [on the cover of ‘The Rash Adventurer’]; saying he and Hilda had accepted the Seltman’s offer [to go on a cruise around some of the Greek islands, Apr 1929]; thanking Herbert for letters and enclosures; sending his love to Robin [Dickinson] and a “kick on the largest measle”; telling Herbert that Hilda was unwell, that her mother had also been ill but was better now, and that [Hans] Frankfort had been very pleased to receive a letter from Herbert.

Sent from Amarna, Egypt. Thanking Herbert for a telegram and saying he was looking forward to seeing a letter from Macmillan; telling Herbert about progress at the excavation, that they had found the house of a master painter and when they had finished excavating a block of houses he and Hilda might be sent to look for the tomb of Smenkara, whilst others would go to the Great Temple site to “try and rescue some architectural details from the mess which Howard Carter made”; telling Herbert about their accommodation at the excavation; and discussing that he might have a chance of [working at the British School at Athens] if [Walter] Heurtley resigned (which he thought might happen as Heurtley and Humfry Payne, who had just been appointed as Director, did not get on). Annotated in a later hand as “18th Feb”.

Sent from Amarna, Egypt. Telling Herbert about the excavation and that it seemed he and Hilda wouldn’t [be sent to look for the tomb of Smenkara, as had been mentioned before], a statuette they had found, that Hall had promised to write the preface [to ‘Aegyptiaca’], about an inscription that [Alan] Shorter had found turning out to read “you big stiff”, and asking Herbert to get Scripta Minoa and other books on sites in Crete or Greece and on Aeges Egyptian connections. Annotated in a later hand as “March”.

Written from Amarna [Egyptian Exploration Society excavation] and the end of the excavation season. About John’s application for the Macmillan studentship at the BSA and plans to apply for the Hare prize [from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Classics]; asking Herbert to get an enclosed (not present) manuscript [of John’s ‘Aegyptiaca’] typed and sent to [Henry] Hall at the British Museum, and to get books for John. Also details plans for travelling from Egypt to Greece, and tells Herbert he has written to Will [?] about Chiltern. Undated, annotated in a later hand as “March 1929”.

Sent from Shepheard’s Hotel, Cairo. Mainly about the end of the excavation at Amarna, and a wall painting that John and Hilda had found in the Eastern Village (excavated 1922), Hilda had traced and would be probably be in an exhibition in July. Also telling Herbert they had arrived safely from Amarna and were leaving for Greece the next day; that Lionel and Kathleen [Hargreaves, John’s cousin] were going to have dinner with them that evening; that they had a nice send off from [Hans and Jettie] Frankfort; that they had been to see new finds from Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Cairo museum; and that John hoped the MSS [manuscript of ‘Aegyptiaca’] had arrived.

Sent from Vathy, Samos [Vathý, Sámos]. About a trip [with Charles and Isabel Seltman, and Mrs Emmett] around Greek islands and bad weather meaning the route had to be changed, visiting “Tigani” [renamed Pythagóreion] on the other side of Samos and seeing the [Tunnel of Eupalinos], and their boat having to rescue a Russian boat off the coast of Sámos. Also telling Herbert their plans to visit the Heraion on Sámos then continue their trip to Chios, Mytilene [Lesbos] and Crete. John details that the original planned route was Tenos [Tínos], Mykonos [Míkonos], Delos [Dhílos], Naxos [Náxos], Paros [Páros], Melos [Mílos], Thera [Santorini], Candia [Iráklion], Hagios Nikolaos [Áyios Nikólaos] (for Pseira [Psíra] and Gournia [Gourniá]), Samos [Sámos], Chios , Mitylene [Lésvos], Skyros [Skíros] then Athens. The route was changed after Delos [Dhílos] due to bad weather and they went straight to Samos [Sámos]. Also asking Herbert to get ‘Mallia’ volume I by Charputnier.

Sent from Chios [during a trip around Greek islands, with Charles and Isabel Seltman, and Mrs Emmett]. Telling Herbert that the weather was better, that a member of the party had mumps [Bobby Emmett, son of hostess] but it wasn’t serious, that they had arrived safely and were sailing to Mitylene [Lésvos] that day. Stamped as received in Malvern, 14 Apr 1929.