France is to hand over to Egypt a lock of hair said to belong to the mummy of Rameses II that was put on sale on the Internet last year, French officials said Monday.

Egyptian diplomats made a formal request last week to recover the hair, which was seized by French police after going on sale in November, according to the prosecutor's office in the eastern city of Grenoble.

Tiny fragments of hair, embalming resin and bandages allegedly taken from the mummy of Rameses II came to light after they were put on sale in an Internet ad — provoking outrage among the authorities in Egypt...

France to return 'pharaoh's hair' to Egypt, AFP via Yahoo! News, USA, February 26, 2007.

Previously: Frenchman arrested for trying to sell lock of pharaoh's hair, November 29, 2006.

A 5-year-old with a passion for ancient Egypt opened her piggy bank at the University of Memphis' Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology.

Geni Gallant's contribution — $6.75 in loose change — wasn't enough to buy the new mummy cases the museum is looking for, but it was much appreciated, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported.

"Geni's donation was so touching," museum Director Mariam Ayad told the Commercial Appeal. "The fact that she's so little and saved money for the entire year shows a lot of dedication and commitment to our cause..."

Art Museum of the University of Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Child donates $6.75 to mummy's cause, UPI, USA, February 25, 2007.

Tut famously toured America 30 years ago, drawing 8 million visitors and influencing fashion, dress and popular culture (and inspiring Steve Martin to write the song "King Tut"). But today's exhibit is a "fundamentally different" show, according to Dennis Wint, president and chief executive of the Franklin Institute.

Mainly, there's a lot more to see. It's 2 1/2 times the size of the show from the 1970s and displays not only Tut's treasures but also those of other 18th-dynasty royals who ruled in that turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history.

"You're not just talking about the boy king but about the 18th dynasty, and it provides a much more comprehensive story," Wint said.

Why did Philly make the cut for the tour, which has included stops in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Chicago? Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the man responsible for bringing the show to the United States, has connections to the city: He received his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. As for the Franklin Institute, the museum's recent expansion gave it enough room to hold the exhibit...

Philadelphia offers bigger, better King Tut show, John Maynard, Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii, USA, February 25, 2007.

cf. King Tut Exhibit Opens In Philly, Geoff Gehman, Hartford Courant, Connecticut, USA, February 25, 2007.