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Story summary
- Inlibris listed the 235-illustrated Gondarine Gospel for $250,000 at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, sparking controversy.
- Ethiopia’s Heritage Authority, led by Abebaw Ayalew, called the sale morally unethical and warned of reputational risk.
- Inlibris head Hugo Wertscherk said returning the manuscript would be illegal because no pre-19th-century restitution law exists.
- The Gospel, looted by British commander Robert Napier from Emperor Tewodros II in 1868, was likely commissioned in Gondar 1730-1734.