The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: The Plunder

An 18th century manuscript of the Life of Alexander the Great (OR 827)

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / 1 Comment on An 18th century manuscript of the Life of Alexander the Great (OR 827)

What: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript of the Life of Alexander the Great

Where: The British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB

Ref: OR 827
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_827

Provenance:
Stamped inside cover: “Presented by the Secretary of State for India Aug. 1868”
Listed as part of the “Magdala collection” in William Wright’s Catalogue of the Ethiopic manuscripts in the British Museum acquired since the year 1847

Posted In Historical, legal, medical & other | Manuscripts | The Plunder
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A 19th century Ethiopian medical manuscript (OR 828)

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / 2 Comments on A 19th century Ethiopian medical manuscript (OR 828)

What: A 19th century Ethiopian manuscript containing a collection of medical writings with the healing properties of different items, especially of plants

Where: The British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB

Ref: OR 828
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_828

Provenance:
Stamped on the first page: “Presented by the Secretary of State for India Aug. 1868”
Listed as part of the “Magdala collection” in William Wright’s Catalogue of the Ethiopic manuscripts in the British Museum acquired since the year 1847

Posted In Historical, legal, medical & other | Manuscripts | The Plunder
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An 18th century manuscript including Praises of Mary, Weddase Maryam (W916)

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An 18th century manuscript of Praises of Mary (Weddase Maryam) & Praises and Commendation to the Mother of Adonai (Weddase wa-genay la-Emma Adonay), with many illustrations. Magdala is mentioned on the cover.

Where: The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, D02 AD92

One of a collection of 58 Ethiopian manuscripts and illustrated pages in the library. Two others in the collection – an edition of the Miracles of Mary (Library ref: 914) and a collection of hymns (Library ref: 949) – have clear links to Magdala. Many of the rest may also be Magdala plunder.

Library Ref: W916
Digital version with images of illustrations and the cover – https://viewer.cbl.ie/viewer/object/W_916/1/LOG_0000/

Provenance: The cover is marked with the message: “Part of an Ethiopic MS. taken at Magdala, Abyssinia, 1868, Lieut. E. H. H. Collen, R.A.”

Posted In Manuscripts | Prayers, psalms, hymns, services
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A manuscript including a collection of hymns (949) *

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An Ethiopian manuscript including a collection of hymns

Where: The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, D02 AD92

One of a collection of 58 Ethiopian manuscripts and illustrated pages in the library. Two others in the collection – a manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (Library ref: 914) and an edition of the Praises of Mary (Library ref: W916) – have clear links to Magdala. Many of the rest may also be Magdala plunder.

Library Ref: 949

Provenance: There is a note on the verso of folio 46 reading: “Tho. Eadon, 10th Company, Royal Engineers”, according to Rita Pankhurst’s 173 paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Maqdala (Magdala). That Company took part in the Abyssinian Expedition.

Posted In Manuscripts | Prayers, psalms, hymns, services
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An ‘Ethiopic manuscript’ with six illustrations (IE TCD MS 2286) *

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A [religious] text in Ethiopic script in a roll, interspersed with six illustrations in brown and black. Note on the back mentions the Abyssinian Expedition and one of the British force’s bases on the route.

Where: Trinity College Library – Dublin

One of at least 19 Ethiopic manuscripts listed in the library’s database.

Library ref: IE TCD MS 2286
database entry – https://manuscripts.catalogue.tcd.ie/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=IE+TCD+MS+2286&pos=5

Provenance:
Dated on back “Addigerat, March 22 1868. R.G. Kennedy Abs[ynnia]n Ex[peditio]n.”
Presented by Col. Lefroy, Carrigglas Manor, Longford, 1 May 1950.

Posted In Manuscripts | Scrolls | Suspected Magdala plunder
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Scroll showing cross with Roman soldiers (IE TCD MS 3809) *

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Described as “Ethiopic [religious] text with rubrication, illumination and illuminated miniatures, crucifixion – cross with Roman soldiers, no figures of Christ, 800x88mm, rolled vellum”

Where: Trinity College Library – Dublin

One of at least 19 Ethiopic manuscripts listed in the library’s database.

Library ref: IE TCD MS 3809
database entry – https://manuscripts.catalogue.tcd.ie/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=IE+TCD+MS+3809-3810&pos=12

Provenance:
Purchased by TCLD 9 June 1905. Brought from Abyssinia in 1869 [receipt kept with rolls]. Found in Classing Room, April 1964
1869 is the year after the Abyssinian Expedition

Posted In Manuscripts | Scrolls | Suspected Magdala plunder
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