The Prince and the Plunder

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

Tag: British Library

The Song of Songs including a gloss in Amharic (OR 495)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript containing the Song of Songs and a gloss on that book in Amharic

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

Ref: OR 495
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_495

Provenance:
Stamped at the front: “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

A 17th century manuscript including Job and other books (OR 496)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A 17th century Ethiopian manuscript containing Job and other books, with a note saying it was bought be “Walda ‘Amlak”.

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

Ref: OR 496
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_496

Provenance:
Stamped at the front: “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

The Book of Job and the 12 Minor Prophets (OR 497)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript containing Job and other books, including the 12 minor prophets.

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

Ref: OR 497
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_497

Provenance:
Stamped at the front: “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

A manuscript including Daniel, Job, minor prophets and some writing exercises (OR 498)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript containing Daniel, Job, Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus the son of Sirach, and the Minor Prophets. Folio 1 a and 70 b are covered with “trials of the pen”.

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

Ref: OR 498
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_498

Provenance:
Stamped at the front: “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

A manuscript of The Miracles of Jesus Christ (OR 8824)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An 18th century illuminated manuscript of The Miracles of Jesus Christ

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

Ref: OR 8824
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_8824
Title: The Miracles of Jesus Christ, ተአምረ ኢየሱስ.
Date: 18th century
Decription: An Ethiopian manuscript containing: 42 miracles of Jesus Christ. Number of illustrations: 40 miniatures illustrating the Miracles of Jesus and a rough drawing in black for a miniature representing of God the Father with the symbols of the four Evangelists.
Provenance:
Front flyleaf, a note “Bequeathed by Barea Batoness Zouche, 13 Oct 1917.”
Before f.1 a double paper leaf is inserted (110 x 185 mm.) containing a letter written by W. Wright to R. Curzon concerning the content of the manuscript. 6 November 1868. The letter says the manuscript came from Magdala.

A manuscript of The Octateuch (OR 480)

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A 14th-15th Century manuscript of The Octateuch – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth

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

Ref: OR 480
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_480
Description: An Ethiopian manuscript containing:The Octateuch. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth)

Provenance:
On f.2r. Upper margin ኦሪት ዘቅዱስ መድኃኔ ዓለም, “the Law, belonging to the Holy Saviour of the World”. The church Holy Saviour of the World built by King Theodore at Magdala.

It is the first manuscript 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