Image Rights and Fees

Harry Burton, a British archaeologist and photographer, worked for the Egyptian Expedition of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work included creating a photographic survey of wall scenes in private tombs at Thebes (opposite modern-day Luxor) and photographing the Expedition's excavations.

In 1922, following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the Metropolitan Museum loaned Burton's services to Howard Carter. Burton subsequently worked for Carter for the ten years it took to record the tomb and its objects. The arrangement was that, for every negative/photograph Burton made for Howard Carter, he would make an identical negative/photograph for the Metropolitan Museum. As a result, two sets of original Burton negatives exist: one in the Griffith Institute Archive, Oxford, and the other in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. The two institutions shared the 70-year copyright that applied following Harry Burton's death in 1940.

Howard Carter's original Burton negatives and photographic prints in Oxford form part of the Tutankhamun Archive. This archive contains the original excavation records that belonged to Howard Carter. Following Carter's death in 1939, his executor and niece, Phyllis Walker, donated these records along with their copyright, including the Burton negatives and prints, to the Griffith Institute.

Although the original copyright of Burton's photographs and the rest of the Tutankhamun archive has expired, the Institute owns the reproduction rights in its digital scans of the original Burton negatives, photographic prints, lantern slides and Carter's documentation. Burton photographs of the Tutankhamun excavation reproduced in publications with an acknowledgement to the Griffith Institute, or found online, are owned by the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, and are not Open Source. Anyone wishing to reproduce or otherwise use these images should contact the Institute for information about reproduction and permissions.

1. Photographic charges for digital images

Please note that:

• The original Harry Burton negatives taken in the tomb of Tutankhamun are all black and white. A few colourised versions of the most iconic images are also available.
• We have a small number of colour images of Tutankhamun objects taken in the Cairo Museum by the photographer John Ross which are available to order.
• Our standard digital images are 600dpi tiff format files.
• Files will be emailed or sent digitally through Oxford University's ftp server (or similar service). In exceptional circumstances files will be posted on CD/DVD (postage and packing charges will apply).

Images for commercial purposes

At the discretion of the Griffith Institute, a discount of 20% on reproduction charges can be given if more than 15 images are ordered. A special rate may be used for items which are difficult to digitise.

• There is a minimum charge of £25.00 per order
• An existing scan: £10.00 + VAT
• Images scanned to order: £25.00 + VAT
• For commercial exhibitions and VR/AR use, see below under 2 or contact us

Images for academic/study purposes

A special rate may be used for items which are not standard flat copies.

• There is a minimum charge of £20.00 per order
• An existing scan: £1.00 + VAT
• Images scanned to order: £3.00 + VAT per scan
• In exceptional circumstances the charge may be waived

2. Reproduction fees (per image)

• Non-exclusive, one-time, single-medium, world-rights: £175.00 + VAT
• Non-exclusive, one-time, multimedia, world-rights: £350.00 + VAT
• Book cover image or similar: non-exclusive, one-time, world-rights: £300.00 + VAT / non-exclusive, one-time, multimedia, world-rights: £600.00 + VAT
• Commercial exhibition: non-exclusive, one-time, rights per use, per venue: £1,000.00 + VAT
• Commercial use: non-exclusive, one-time, rights per use, per product: £1,000.00 + VAT
• VR/AR, immersive experiences & digital use: please contact us directly for a quote

The acknowledgement Reproduced with permission of the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford (or alternatively © Griffith Institute, University of Oxford) must appear with each reproduction.

The Griffith Institute does not grant 'in perpetuity' permission for reproduction or citation of material. There are no exceptions. The Griffith Institute will consider licensing images for a maximum of ten years on application.

The fee may be waived for reproduction in non-commercial Egyptological publications. Please apply to the Griffith Institute.

School or university textbooks - please email the Griffith Institute for a quote providing details of images required or text to be cited, purpose, publisher and print-run.

3. Consultancy fee

• £50.00 + VAT per hour (research carried out by staff) [academic]
• £150.00 + VAT per hour (research carried out by staff) [commercial]

4. Filming fee

• £400.00 + VAT per hour or part thereof (limited space, small crews only)

5. For any other use, please contact us directly for a quote