Fragments from an Egyptian Book of the Dead, in hieroglyphic and hieratic scripts, manuscripts on papyrus [Egypt, most probably Third Intermediate Period (1069-664 BC.)]

7 groups of fragments of papyri from a single scroll, each laid down on cards (approximately 300mm. by 100mm.) with parts of chs. 17, 18, 125, 147 and 2 unidentified sections of the text, in black and red ink set within ink-ruled columns (c.10 mm. wide), remains of a single coloured figure at edge of one piece, losses at outer edges but much of text remaining and quite legible

From the collection of Erik Wirén (1857-1958) of Stocksund, Sweden. These fragments were exhibited in the Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg, in October 1954 (Förteckning över en samling av skriftprov, boktryck och bokband ur framlidne direktör Erik Wiréns, 1959). A Ritual Passaviense from his library was sold in our rooms, 5 December 2006, lot 84.

These manuscripts were prepared as religious and magical guides to aid the deceased in the trials of the journey to the afterlife, and were included amongst the tomb assemblies of members of the Egyptian social elites. They were originally reserved only for royal use during their earliest origins around 2400 BC., but became increasingly popular as larger numbers of elites began to expect to enter the next world, and by the period of the present fragments, they were widely used in the tombs of scribes, priests and officials.