The Prince and the Plunder

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

Tag: Unknown

Captain James’ Life of St George, last seen in Bombay

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

What: A manuscript of a life of St George with drawings of various martyrs

Where: Unknown – last seen in Bombay

This was exhibited along with other Magdala plunder at a meeting of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in August 1868.

According to the minutes of that meeting:

Dr. Wilson exhibited the following articles :

  1. An original letter of the Emperor Theodorus addressed to the commandant of Magdala , and found by Captain James on the destruction of that fort. It is neatly written in the Ethiopic character and Amharic language, and bears the royal seal. It relates to the late Coptic Abuna of Abyssinia , and contains the cruel order to allow that ecclesiastical dignitary to die without any attempt to seek his recovery.
  2. A copy neatly written on parchment of a large Amharic work, the Gadela Georgios, or History of St. George and the Dragon, with tolerably well executed coloured drawings of various Christian Martyrs, male and female. This curious work also belongs to Captain James of the Bombay Staff Corps.
  3. A copy of the Gospel of John in Amharic, written on parchment, and presented to Dr. Wilson by Mr. Mikhail Joseph , one of the interpreters of the Abyssinian force.
Posted In Acts & miracles of the saints | Manuscripts
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The interpreter’s Gospel of St John last seen in Bombay

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

What: An Ethiopian manuscript of the Gospel of St John

Where: Unknown – last seen in Bombay

This was exhibited along with other Magdala plunder at a meeting of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in August 1868.

According to the minutes of that meeting:

Dr. Wilson exhibited the following articles :

  1. An original letter of the Emperor Theodorus addressed to the commandant of Magdala , and found by Captain James on the destruction of that fort. It is neatly written in the Ethiopic character and Amharic language, and bears the royal seal. It relates to the late Coptic Abuna of Abyssinia , and contains the cruel order to allow that ecclesiastical dignitary to die without any attempt to seek his recovery.
  2. A copy neatly written on parchment of a large Amharic work, the Gadela Georgios, or History of St. George and the Dragon, with tolerably well executed coloured drawings of various Christian Martyrs, male and female. This curious work also belongs to Captain James of the Bombay Staff Corps.
  3. A copy of the Gospel of John in Amharic, written on parchment, and presented to Dr. Wilson by Mr. Mikhail Joseph , one of the interpreters of the Abyssinian force.
Posted In Biblical books | Manuscripts | The Plunder
Tagged

Mr Reade’s prayer book, last seen near Dublin, ‘picked up after the sack of King Theodore’s palace’

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

What: An 86-page Ethiopian vellum book, possibly of prayers, with “quite beautiful” writing

Where: Last heard of in 1883 when it was in the possession of a George H. Reade of Greythorn, Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire, Dublin). Current whereabouts of the book unknown.

Reade wrote a letter that was printed in the June 1883 edition of the periodical The Bibliographer, looking for information on an 86-page Ethiopian book that had come into his possession via the mother of a soldier on the Abyssinian Expedition.

Col W F Prideaux, who had been one Emperor Tewodros’s captives on Magdala, wrote back with some information and suggestions in the September edition of the Bibliographer.

Read Reade’s description of the book and his account of where it came from in his letter below.

(more…)
Posted In Manuscripts | Prayers, psalms, hymns, services
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Colonel Prideaux’s gospel, collected during captivity, last seen in Calcutta *

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

What: A 17th century copy of the Gospel of St John

Where: Last heard of in 1883 when it was in the collection of Col W F Prideaux, who had been one Emperor Tewodros’s captives on Magdala. Current whereabouts of gospel unknown

Prideaux, wrote a letter that was printed in the September 1883 edition of the periodical The Bibolographer. He was replying to an earlier letter from a Mr Reade about a book that had been brought back by one of the soldiers on the Abyssinian Expedition.

Prideaux says in his letter that he brought back a 17th century copy of the Gospel of John. See the bolded passage in his letter below.

(more…)
Posted In Biblical books | Manuscripts
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An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *

Published August 30, 2022 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: “A manuscript charm, on a vellum strip, in the Coptic character, and with rude illustrations of saints, &c.”

Where: Unknown

Part of the catalogue for the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds

Description

One of 21 artefacts from the Abyssinian expedition put on show at the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds in 1868

According to the exhibition’s catalogue, it was lent by Private T. Goodwin , 3rd Dragoons, from Leeds. There are no details on what happened to it after the show closed in October that year.

A Private Thomas Goodwin is in the official list of men from the 3rd Dragoons who got an Abyssinian Campaign medal.

Sources

National Exhibition of Works of Art, at Leeds, 1868 : official catalogue

WO-100-43_1Download
Posted In Manuscripts | Scrolls | Suspected Magdala plunder
Tagged

An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *

Published August 30, 2022 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: “A manuscript charm, on a vellum strip, in the Coptic character, and with rude illustrations of saints, &c.”

Where: Unknown

Part of the catalogue for the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds

Description

One of 21 artefacts from the Abyssinian expedition put on show at the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds in 1868

According to the exhibition’s catalogue, it was lent by Private T. Goodwin , 3rd Dragoons, from Leeds. There are no details on what happened to it after the show closed in October that year.

A Private Thomas Goodwin is in the official list of men from the 3rd Dragoons who got an Abyssinian Campaign medal.

Sources

National Exhibition of Works of Art, at Leeds, 1868 : official catalogue

WO-100-43_1Download
Posted In Manuscripts | Scrolls | Suspected Magdala plunder
Tagged