A survey of work among the papyri in Egyptian archaeology. With 32 plates. Contents: Book 1, Ancient papyri: Papyrus and its use as a writing material; Use of the papyrus in Ancient Egypt; First papyrus-hunters; Ancient Egyptian Papyri in modern times; Ancient papyri: historical and legal; Ancient papyri: poetry; Ancient papyri: fiction; Funerary papyri. Book 2, Greco-Roman papyri: Modern papyrus-hunting; Theological and literary texts; Official, legal, and personal documents and letters.