Description
Original Autograph Inscription from Horace, “sed tamen in pretio, signed and dated ‘Thos. J.Pettigrew’ beneath an Egyptian hieroglyph. 4 x 5 inches, in fine condition. From the autograph book compiled by Hugh Welch Diamond (1809-1886), “the father of psychiatric photography”. Saville Row, 26 February 1844. Uncommon. Thomas Joseph Pettigrew FRS (1791 –1865), sometimes known as “Mummy” Pettigrew, was a surgeon and antiquarian who became an expert on Ancient Egyptian mummies. He became well known in London social circles for his private parties in which he unrolled and autopsied mummies for the entertainment of his guests. The phrase “sed tamen in pretio” is in Latin. It translates to “but still valuable” or “yet of worth.” It conveys the idea that something may have a cost or price, but it remains valuable or significant. In life, there are often things that hold intrinsic worth beyond their monetary value.