A three-page letter written by archaeologist Howard Carter, which disputes the origins of the famous "Curse of the Pharaohs" linked to King Tutankhamun's tomb, has sold at auction for $16,643. In the letter, Carter explicitly blames journalist Arthur Weigall for inventing the sensationalist myth out of professional pique after being excluded from exclusive coverage of the 1922 discovery.
The sale matters because the letter provides a rare, direct account from the tomb's discoverer, revealing the behind-the-scenes media tensions and financial deals that shaped the global narrative around one of history's most famous archaeological finds. It underscores how a modern media myth was born from a rivalry between press and archaeology, and how such artifacts continue to hold significant historical and market value, nearly doubling in price since its last auction two years prior.