1954–1968: J. S. Last

EPISKOPI LIMASSOL CYPRUS

5 Feb 55

Dear Ellen:

Many thanks for your letter of 28 January. I will first deal with a matter which takes up some room. On p. 24 of my Water Supply MSS, line 11, is a blank space for insertion of a date assigned to a lamp. As it is an important point I asked the Cyprus Museum to date the lamp. Dikaios writes as follows: "It appears to correspond to the early specimen of type XXVII of Broneer's classification, i.e., end of first or early second century A.D. See Corinth vol IV pt 2, p 90 and pl XI (556). According to Broneer, (which is the case of Mr Last's lamp), the discus sometimes lacks decoration (which is the case of L's lamp) but more often has a pattern of rays. The ovules are impressed, not made in the mould which might be the case of the lamp under examination if I judge from certain ovules which are deeper than others. The whole identification and dating should however be checked by Prof. Broneer himself. He is at Chicago University and if Mr Last is sending his report to Phila. he might request Edwards to have the dating confirmed. Unfortunately the nozzle is wanting and gives no clue to typological or chronological data. If it were there we might have better chance for absolute or relative dating." Perhaps you will let me know whether to send the lamp (? airmail) or photo/drawing.

Now, to reply to yours. I really should not bother so busy a one as you on a trivial matter like stamps but in fact I shall be glad to have any that you can let me have without trouble. Apart from my needs, the youngest Chrysilios brother is forming a collection - in fact he thinks that the verb "to collect" applies only to stamps. But don't send them by airmail - there's no hurry.

Photos in Water Supply MSS: I did not think it would be necessary to send dummy plates as it is quite straightforward as set out at the head of page 46. The first ten plates (40 photos, 4 to a plate) should be all upright; the last three plates (6 photos, 2 to a plate) should be sideways (side-laid). The marginal notes against the caption for plates I & II are merely references to Pipe &c Numbers and Figure numbers which should follow the captions for plate III &c - if you think this will be sufficient money to be able to plan the plates. It seemed such a waste of money to send 13 extra sheets by airmail (my fixation, perhaps) and in any case I thought you would want to type the captions before sticking the photos on.

Personally, I don't mind how long it takes to bring out the monograph. All the same a spot of mutual weeping would be fun. I imagine you are in no particular hurry for the maps and drawings. I like to do them when the spirit moves me and that depends on the … continues