SIR EDMUND HILLARY LOOKS AT AN ALLEGED YETI SCALP WITH ITS GUARDIAN KHUMBO CHUMBI: 1960: ORIGINAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPH
Hillary, Sir Edmund & P.A. Reuter
£250.00
Availability: In stock
Product Description
SIR EDMUND HILLARY LOOKS AT AN ALLEGED YETI SCALP WITH ITS GUARDIAN KHUMBO CHUMBI: 1960: ORIGINAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPH
Publisher: P.A. Reuter, UK
Price: £250.00
Date: December 22nd, 1960
Photograph Size: 15cm x 20.5cm
Format: Original gelatin silver press photograph. Original copyright of P. A. Reuter Ltd, London, UK.
Edition: Not stated.
Special Features: This photograph is stamped and dated to the reverse with copyright information and a detailed description of the image.
Condition:
The photograph is in fine, clean condition, with minor creasing to the label on the reverse. The reverse side features stamps and descriptions, providing provenance and authenticity.
Description:
This rare and historically significant photograph captures Sir Edmund Hillary, the legendary mountaineer, as he closely examines an alleged Yeti scalp at London airport, safeguarded by Khumbo Chumbi, a local guardian. Taken after Hillary’s ‘Silver Hut’ expedition of 1960, which aimed to explore and investigate evidence of the mysterious Yeti or ‘Abominable Snowman,’ this image offers a fascinating glimpse into one of the most enigmatic aspects of Himalayan lore.
The Yeti, often referred to as the ‘Abominable Snowman,’ has long been a subject of fascination and speculation. Eric Shipton, a renowned British mountaineer, and Hillary both reported sightings and findings related to the Yeti during their respective expeditions. Shipton’s famous photographs of Yeti footprints in the Menlung Basin, taken during the 1951 Everest Reconnaissance Expedition, sparked worldwide intrigue. These images, along with subsequent encounters reported by Hillary and others, have contributed significantly to the mythos surrounding this elusive creature.
Historical Context:
The 1960 expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary, known primarily for his 1953 first ascent of Mount Everest, was an investigative journey to evaluate the existence of the Yeti. Despite thorough exploration and scientific analysis, the results were inconclusive, yet the expedition added depth to the lore and mystery surrounding the Yeti. This photograph, showing Hillary’s careful examination of what was purported to be a Yeti scalp, symbolizes the intersection of exploration, folklore, scientific inquiry, and scepticism.
This article is from the archive of ‘The Guardian’ newspaper and was originally published on 23 December 1960:
Yeti Scalp (They Say It’s 240 Years Old) is Here – By Air:
Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr. Desmond Doig, who have been on a yeti-hunting expedition in Nepal, arrived in London by air yesterday with the scalp of what is believed in Khumjung village to be a yeti. Accompanying them was Khumjo Chumbi, the village headman and guardian of the scalp.
Sir Edmund said he would prefer to withhold his theories until the scalp had been examined by a zoologist and until French and American experts had completed tests of the hair. But unless “something turned up” concerning the scalp, he did not believe in the existence “of a strange new animal.”
Khumjo Chumbi, however, was certain about the scalp’s nature. He recounted that he had heard a yeti crying three times in one day and that his children had seen one. “We don’t believe in giraffes and lions in Nepal because there aren’t any there. Likewise, you don’t believe in yetis because you have none in your country,” he remarked.
With the scalp on a table in front of him, Sir Edmund explained: “The scalp was in the house of a frightening old woman, believed to be a witch, in Khumjung. It has been in the possession of the village for 240 years. The villagers hold it in great respect as a good luck charm, and we had a lot of trouble getting it out. The old woman said bad luck would befall the village if it left.
“Eventually, we took it under three conditions: that we gave a donation to the village monastery; that one of the headmen came with us; and that we must give a donation towards a new village school. If we are not back by January 5, three Sherpas who were with us will forfeit their lands.”
Khumjo Chumbi gave five low cries when asked to imitate the call of the yeti. He described, “My children saw it. They called out and it ran away. It had a human head and ran like a dog. It is about the size of a ten-year-old child.”
Interestingly, the three men were booked to fly in the DC 8 which crashed in Brooklyn last week. When asked if he thought the good luck scalp saved them, Sir Edmund replied, “Personally, I don’t believe in good luck charms. We didn’t fly on that plane because we had more work to do in Chicago. The amount of prayers that Khumjo Chumbi says before we board a taxi or plane look after us sufficiently.”
To this day, the Yeti remains a cryptid—a creature whose existence is suggested but not scientifically confirmed. Despite numerous reported sightings and footprints, scientific evidence of the Yeti’s existence remains elusive. The Yeti continues to captivate the imagination and curiosity of both locals and adventurers alike. Contemporary and dated photographs relating to the search for the Yeti are very scarce indeed, and this is in excellent condition.
Location: Map drawer C: Folder: 3002
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