Full Breakdown
Dispute Over the Sale of Ethiopia’s Gondarine Gospel Manuscript
By Drooid · · How we work
The Disputed Sale
A rare 18th-century Ethiopian manuscript, the Gondarine Gospel, appeared in a catalogue for the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair with an asking price of $250,000. The book, written in Ge’ez and containing 235 illustrated pages of the Gospels of Luke and John, is claimed by Ethiopia’s heritage authorities to have been looted by British forces during the 1868 Battle of Magdala. Ethiopian officials have demanded that the manuscript be withdrawn from sale on “moral and ethical” grounds, while the Vienna-based dealer Inlibris argues that no legal basis exists for restitution because pre-18th-century laws did not prohibit wartime looting.
Historical Background
Emperor Tewodros II ruled Ethiopia from 1855 until his death in 1868. After a failed appeal to Queen Victoria for assistance, he imprisoned British diplomats, prompting a British expedition. On April 9, 1868, 13,000 troops from British India attacked Magdala, killing 4,000 of Tewodros’s soldiers; the emperor subsequently took his own life. British commander Robert Napier seized the Gondarine Gospel, which later passed through colonial officers, museums, and, about a decade ago, entered private ownership.
Official Positions
The Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA) has sent a letter to Inlibris urging removal of the manuscript, citing moral imperatives. Inlibris head Hugo Wertscherk replied that handing over the book would be illegal and that the firm is “only a businessman.” He also suggested a “preferential price” settlement but refused to negotiate on the premise of owed restitution. British historian Alula Pankhurst, who first alerted Ethiopian authorities, contended that the EHA’s correspondence was “polite” rather than threatening.
Criticism & Opposition
Abreha Kiros, a professor of art history at Aksum University, warned that the manuscript’s value extends beyond its association with Emperor Tewodros, emphasizing its importance for Ethiopian manuscript culture and urging dialogue despite the lack of a clear legal mechanism.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are clear moral grounds for art dealers to avoid selling items which are established as having been looted,” — Abebaw Ayalew, head of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA)
- “It is not simply an old religious book, nor should its significance be reduced to its association with Emperor Tewodros,” — Abreha Kiros, of Aksum University
- “The Ethiopian Heritage Authority wrote them a polite letter which was not a threat,” — Alula Pankhurst, british historian