Capt. Larkin Turner's Mummy
Until the beginning of 1824, Padihershef had been a unique item—the first complete mummy ever to be exhibited to the public in America. This was about to change.
The Boston Commercial Gazette of 8 January 1824 announced:
“An Egyptian mummy was brought in the brig C. Augusta [i.e., Caroline Augusta], which arrived at this port on Monday, from Trieste.”
Larkin Turner, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, was the captain of this brig, and he lost little time in securing testimonials that the mummy was real. The 2 March 1824 issue of the Salem Gazette printed the findings of John C. Warren (dated 8 February 1824), and Abraham R. Thompson, M.D., and J. Stearns Hurd, M.D. (both dated 9 February 1824) that the mummy, from all appearances and tests to which they had subjected it, was genuine.
The 11 February 1824 issue of the Columbian Centinel American Federalist informed its readers:
“The Egyptian mummy from ancient Thebes brought by Capt. Turner, from Trieste; lately mentioned as having arrived in this city; will we understand shortly be exhibited at Doggett’s Repository.”
Doggett & Co. were hedging their bets with a new and different mummy while they were still exhibiting Padihershef. The company probably handled the first traveling exhibits of the mummy. The first of these venues was the Franklin Building, in Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Gazette for 23 March 1824 noted that the mummy was in town.
From Salem the mummy show would journey only a short distance to Newburyport, where the 6 April 1824 Newburyport Herald reported:
“We learn with pleasure that the Egyptian mummy … which has excited so much attention in Boston, is to be exhibited in this town for a few days, and will probably be open for public inspection on Saturday next."[i.e., the 10th].”
This mummy had a decidedly different appearance from that of Padihershef. The coffin was most likely painted black or dark green, the colors of resurrection for the ancient Egyptians. The details and texts may have been actual gold leaf, but most likely were painted yellow. The ancient Egyptians believed in sympathetic magic and since gold is yellow, the color yellow could magically become gold in the other world. Once again the drawing of the coffin is very fine and clear--so clear that John Taylor of the British Museum was able to translate the owner's name as Djedkhonsuiuesankh.
It was on display for about a week, according to the 17 April 1824 Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics which noted that the exhibition was due in Portsmouth. New Hampshire, in about a week’s time. That this occurred was borne out by the 24 April 1824 issue of the Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics, and the 27 April 1824 issue of the New Hampshire Gazette which reported on the mummy. According to the advertisements in those newspapers, the exhibition was at the Portsmouth Franklin Hall, and admission was the usual 25 cents—children half price. A season ticket could be bought for 50 cents.
On 19 May 1824 the Hampshire Gazette ran the woodcut of the mummy and noted:
“We have seen no particular description of the mummy itself. We are informed that the proprietors of this interesting relic of ancient times, intend to exhibit it in Northampton [Massachusetts], in the course of the coming summer or autumn. It will probably excite more admiration than any of the modern belles.”
The residents of that Western Massachusetts town were doomed to disappointment, for there is no record that it, or any other mummy, ever was exhibited there.
The mummy was returned to Doggett’s Repository in Boston “For a few days only” as advertised in the May 29 1824 Independent chronicle and Boston Patriot.