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Page:The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, Volume I.pdf/14

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ence to the literature of over fifty documents dating from 3500 B.C. to about 1000 A.D.;

3. The photographic reproduction of the Rhind mathematical papyrus;

4. The presentation of the original hieratic text, the hieroglyphic transcription, the transliteration, and the literal translation in such a manner that even the reader untutored in Egyptian may pick out in the original those signs corresponding to the phrases in the free translation. Particularly in this part of the work, during the past two years, have I regarded myself as fortunate in securing the cooperation of Doctor Bull. Without such aid I could scarcely have hoped to escape severer strictures than will now be meted out to me by Egyptologists.

My grateful thanks are due to the Trustees of the British Museum for their courtesy in supplying me with photographs of the Rhind Papyrus, and in granting me permission to reproduce them. In connection with this arrangement, the kindness displayed and information furnished by Mr. S. R. K. Glanville, of the staff in the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities of the British Museum, were highly appreciated.

The New York Historical Society has been most generous in placing its fragments of the Rhind papyrus at our disposal for study, arrangement, and photographing, and in permitting the publication of the results.

To Professor D. E. Smith, of Columbia University, who, with Professor Archibald, was appointed by the Mathematical Association of America to assist in seeing my work through the press, I am greatly indebted for encouragement and valuable suggestions.

I wish also to express thanks for assistance to Professor T. Eric Peet, of the University of Liverpool, to Dr. G. A. Reisner, of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and to Doctor Caroline Ransom Williams of Toledo, Ohio.

I hope that the distribution of my work by the Mathematical Association of America may lead to a deeper interest in the contributions of the golden period of Egyptian science.

A. B. C.