A suitcase that belonged to the famous British Egyptologist Howard Carter, will soon go up for auction.
Known for the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, his suitcase was recently found under a bed in the north of England.
This piece of history will be auctioned on February 27 by the local auction house Elstob, with a preliminary estimate between £1,000 and £1,500 (approximately $1,260–$1,900).
An Extraordinary Discovery
The local antiques expert David Harper, involved in the identification of the object, emphasized the importance of the discovery:
“The connection with Howard Carter, Tutankhamon, the allure, the glory, the intrigue behind all this… Furthermore, the fact that the provenance is absolutely certain. There are Carter’s initials on the suitcase.”
Harper, known for his appearances on BBC programs such as “Antiques Road Trip” and “Bargain Hunt”, highlighted how the suitcase, still covered by the sand of the Valley of the Kings, represents a tangible link with one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
The market of memorabilia
The discovery and auctioning of objects that belonged to historical figures or celebrities are not isolated events. The market for memorabilia of famous personalities is continuously growing, fueled by the passion of collectors to own a piece of the history or life of their idols.
For example, in March 2024, the platform Catawiki organized a special auction where items and clothing belonging to prominent personalities such as Pope Francis, Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, and Noel Gallagher were offered.
This trend is further confirmed by initiatives such as that of Qlhype, an Italian start-up launched in November 2023, which offers an e-commerce dedicated to the sale of used clothes that belonged to entertainment and sports celebrities.
A Market in Expansion
The growing demand for celebrity memorabilia has led auction houses to dedicate entire sessions to these items. In May 2023, a maxi auction brought together over 1,200 items that belonged to global music icons, including David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, the Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis Presley.
These events demonstrate how the market for goods that belonged to famous figures is in constant expansion, attracting both passionate collectors and investors in search of unique pieces and historical value.
The discovery of Howard Carter’s suitcase and its imminent auction represent a unique opportunity for collectors to own an item directly connected to one of the most important archaeological discoveries in history.
This event, along with the numerous auctions of celebrity memorabilia, highlights a lively and growing market for items that belonged to prominent figures, offering both a tangible connection to the past and a potentially profitable investment for the future.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
