Watercolour in its original mount, the temples on Philae Island, viewed from the south. Although the watercolour is not signed or annotated, it was most certainly painted by Amelia A. B. Edwards.
[on drawing] 'Scenting the Spring from afar.' (ink note)
[on reverse of drawing] 'to her (underlined). But a nice capable girl was found in the village, who came up [?] to-day - + for two hours to-day - but - <who> cannot come any more, having an engage-ment at the Anna's[?] from tomorrow for a month. They are taking her as temporary housemaid till they leave for Cannes in Feby.' (ink note)
Undated handwritten letter: 'I really can't quite give thee the [?] of my cold. I think I wish the L[?] one. I took a fresh one the day after thou left - + I have had a [?], more or less, since then. Just now there seems an interlude - as between the rain storms. Why don't you buy an old Culloden sword with a basket hilt? It wd be a charming possession. Owl will make this a short letter, as it has to write an elaborate one (with sketches) to the engraver, about the illustrations to the pamphlet, in wh she is much interested. M. Narville[?] has sent me some very nice photographs - + he tells me that Mr MacGregor has made excellent ones. I have written to ask for copies. I mean it to be a very engaging pamphlet. My own, own one, I wish I was with thee on thy birthday. I do want thee so very very much - Poo' owl - so last + long without its Baby. I get quite hipped + out of spirits, owing to dull weather, rain, + no Baby. Thine own Owl (underlined)' (ink)
Handwritten, unsigned letter with drawing of Capri:
'April 11 / 80 My darling, The queer looking object above is the island of Capri - from Naples. It looks like a whale with a broken back - or a Kraken - or any other sea monster you please. Round the corner to the right is the Blue Grotto, + the high cliff in the middle is Tiberius's cliff, over wh. he had people thrown for his entertainment. I have first been writing to Mrs Hawarth[?], + have made her an elaborate Syrian country house on the slopes of Lebanon. The original is a coloured sketch, done at the luncheon halt, in my [?] sketch book. When you go to see her again ask her if she has any [?] + miles[?] of mine[?]' (ink)
Album containing sketched drawings and one watercolour made by Edwards when visiting Egypt in the winter of 1873-1874. Many of these preliminary sketches and the watercolour in the album were used to illustrate her book A Thousand Miles Up the Nile, published in 1877.
Annotated on the first page: "Small Egyptian Scraps: 1874"
Containing 27 mounted items
Watercolours, drawings and sketches made in Egypt, many with Edwards' annotated captions on the drawings and the watercolour and also on the mounts