The big news for Ankh Books is that after many years of representing the E.E.S in Australia and NZ, I have now signed a contract with the E.E.S to become their first “Authorized Bookseller”,  as the E.E.S has moved more in the last 20 years to a more corporate structure with more products, publications and fund raising this is a move that will suit Ankh Books and hopefully encourage more Australian’s to join not only our local societies but also the E.E.S.  If you want any information or a joining form please drop me a note.

Looking forward to hearing from you through the year.

Range: The science of Egyptology commenced in the late 18th century, when Napoleonic troops entered Egypt, fought the Battle of the Embabeh and General Bonaparte, observing the Pyramids, famously stated ‘Comrades, forty centuries look down upon us’. Napoleon included savants (learned men) in his Egyptian entourage, who described what they saw. This became the famous Description de la Egypte which spurred an interest in Egyptology in Europe. Through the savants’ work and the discovery of the famous Rosetta Stone, the Frenchman, Champollion, was able to directly translate Egyptian hieroglyphics for the first time.

Eventually, the English took control of Egypt and opened it to the world. Early tourist/explorer, Englishwoman Amelia Edwards, travelled in Egypt and penned the famous and very collectable A 1000 Miles up the Nile. Edwards founded the Egypt Exploration Fund (later the Egypt Exploration Society) in 1882.

The modern science of Egyptology and, to a large extent, Archaeology developed from these beginnings. From the early, technical books to travel classics like 1000 Miles up the Nile, Egyptological publications developed over the next 150 years into the plethora of good, general books we know and love today.

Availability: Most good booksellers have small Egyptian sections. However, there are a few specialist dealers (like Ankh Antiquarian Books, the Australian representative of the Egypt Exploration Society [UK]) which stock a more complete range of books on Egypt. Most people start with either Tutankhamen or the Pyramids and then broaden out into wherever their interests take them. A great area to collect in is the Amarna period of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti. Other favourites are Hatshepsut and Cleopatra VIII. There are journal reports, novels, art, tombs, mummies, animals, hieroglyphics, literature, modern Egypt, the Turkish occupation, architecture, early photography; really all sorts of areas you can explore within this subject.

Price-range: Books priced as low as $10 are common, but a fine set of the Description de la Egypt would cost you around $200,000. The average price for a very good first edition of 1000 Miles up the Nile is about $650. Depending on rarity, most good quality, collectable books in excellent condition would fall within the $120–$250 price range. With time, books on Egyptology do gain in value and can be an excellent investment, with a steady market of interested buyers.

Footnote: Ankh Antiquarian Books actively promotes Australian Egyptological and Ancient History societies. In Melbourne, courses are offered at Monash University (in Egyptology) and at Latrobe University (in Archaeology). In Sydney, Macquarie University has a large Egyptology faculty. For further information contact Ankh Antiquarian Books.

Here at Ankh Antiquarian Books we offer personal service and a great range of books and gifts to put the “Ankh” into your Tutankhamun experience. 

On another note if you are considering purchasing a subscription to KMT or Minerva magazines then Ankh Antiquarian Books is still the place for the lowest price for these magazines in Australia.  Some Australian bookshops border on the extreme in pricing their magazines and its nice to know you can still get value for money from a small boutique bookshop. 

I am sure that we are in for an exciting year of Egyptology in Melbourne and I look forward very much in welcoming new customers and old to enjoy visiting Ankh Antiquarian Books.

Please call, e-mail or phone and make an appointment to visit our specialist boutique establishment.

Call: 0398881990 or 0419395782

OR

Download our latest catalogues here.

Ankh Antiquarian Order Form

Ankh Antiquarian Book Titles

Jennifer’s Personal Favorites

Ankh Antiquarian T-shirts

Celtic and Roman Gift Catalogue

Since the early 1990’s Ankh Antiquarian Books has been proud to represent the London Egypt Exploration Society. Ankh Antiquarian Books also has strong links with The British Museum, the Australian Institute of Archaeology, The Australian Centre for Egyptology (Rundle Foundation for Egyptian Archaeology) and The Egyptology Society of Victoria.

Ankh is an Ancient Egyptian word meaning life, or eternal life, represented as a tall cross with a loop on top. In early Christian history the symbol of the Ankh was known as the Ansata Cross.

Ankh Antiquarian Books, established in 1989, by Jennifer Jaeger. We are specialists in Ancient History specifically Egypt, Egyptology, the Pyramid Age, Amarna, New Kingdom through to Late period. Books on how to learn hieroglyphics, Art & Ancient Languages.

Also Ancient Greece, Rome, South America & the ancient Near East. (Iran, Iraq, Persia), Ancient China and South East Asia and India.
New and Antiquarian (second-hand) books, with specific searches on hard to get books available as a free service. I also stock a large range of back copies of KMT, Minerva and Egyptian Archaeology magazines, as well as the current editions.

At Christmas time and through-out the year a range of interesting and unusual gifts are available such as wax seals, Egyptian Statues & Celtic products. Our range of T-shirts, all produced in Australia are also very popular.

As Australian Representative for the Egypt Exploration Society we can supply member-ship forms and information on current EES publications. I actively promote Australian Egyptology and stock all journals produced by the Australian Centre for Egyptology. We actively support the Egyptology Society of Victoria.

Ankh Antiquarian Books is also a proud member of ANZAAB (Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers) & ILAB.

For personal and friendly service please call, e-mail or if you are in Melbourne make an appointment to visit our home based purpose built shop.

Call: 0398881990 or 0419395782

OR

Download our latest catalogues here.

The Egypt Exploration Society(EES) has been working in Egypt since 1882. For over 120 years the EES has been making all aspects of the culture of ancient and historic Egypt (to 1900 AD) better known to the public.

Their fieldwork and research is undertaken in Egypt itself and the results of this work are made available through their website, publications, and through events held in London and Cairo.

The Society is a registered UK charity and relies on subscriptions and donations to fund its work. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt. If you have any questions regarding the E.E.S please feel free to contact me.

KMT was started in 1990 by two very keen young men. Dennis Forbes, who started writing almost the entire magazine and
his Editor, Michael Kuhlman.

These two men and their small staff have moulded a popular but academic style magazine over the past 21 years which has had some of the most famous names in modern Egyptology as advisors and contributors.  Names such as TGH James,  Donald Ryan, Aidan Dobson, James Allen, Kenneth Kitchen, Geoffrey Martin and many more.

Regular feature articles, include Nile Currents, Book reviews, for the record and ongoing features on Giants of Egyptology and particular emphasis on art, mummies, pyramids, DNA research, new discoveries in Egypt and also museum issues and discussions within Egyptology.

The magazine is in an easy to read, well written style with lots of great colour pictures and plans etc.  Also KMT Communications produces the occasional full size publication which is well worth taking a look at and highly prized by Egyptophiles.

KMT magazine sells generally in Australia for around $25 in the large chains, I sell it for $21.50 and $3.50 post.  Included with this is the famous KMT Club newsletter which details events in Australia as well as special discounts and offers on books and gifts from my shop.

If you would like to order a subscription please order at our antiquarian magazine page or download my latest catalougue.

KMT is a great magazine and one I highly recommend.  Oh what does KMT mean, Egypt – the Black Land of course!