This lot will be sold on Wednesday 2nd December (day 2 of the auction.) Lots 464-913 will be sold on day 2 (lots 1-463 will be sold on day 1). The auction will begin at 2:00 pm GMT. Lots are sold sequentially so there is no preset ending time. A live streaming broadcast of the auction will be available on auction days.

A functional hero Book of the Dead from Stephen Sommers' action adventure The Mummy. The Book of the Dead was one of two prominent Ancient Egyptian artefacts to feature in the film, and was first discovered in a chest located at the Statue of Anubis by a group of American treasure hunters. Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) accidentally used the book to raise the ancient priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) from the grave.

The heavy book is primarily made of resin finished in black to resemble obsidian, and features several intentionally tarnished brass metal components. Intricately decorated, the front cover features sporadic curved lines, an Egyptian hieroglyph insignia on the left side, and raised scarab beetle emblems. Finished in shades of faux bronze, the large circular resin lock section displays an embedded sun-shaped emblem, where a key would have been inserted.

The embellished metal spine displays 12 individual strands attached to each internal page. Designed to hold the front cover in place, four metal vulture-like clasps are inserted into the scarab beetle emblems and are adjoined to uniquely designed hinges. Located within the book are 12 resin tablet pages covered in ornate hieroglyph detailing.

To open the book, the circular mechanical emblem on the cover must be twisted in an anticlockwise direction, which causes the two clasps on the right side to pop up. To close the book, the two clasps should be pushed down into their corresponding slots and held. The emblem should then be turned clockwise causing the locks to fix back into place.

Intentionally distressed for the production, the weighty book exhibits minor wear from use and remains in a fragile state. The front shows minor paint wear and glue remnants. A small hairline crack is present within the lock section, and the back displays light coloured spots. The book is accompanied by a promotional still showing Imhotep holding the book. Dimensions: 37 cm x 37 cm x 12 cm (14 1/2" x 14 1/2" x 4 3/4")

Contains mechanical components; see mechanical components notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: £20,000 - 30,000 M