Stolen Ethiopian Sacred Manuscript Surfaces for Sale, Sparking Global Restitution Debate

An ancient sacred book looted by British forces from an Ethiopian monarch has triggered a fierce ownership dispute after appearing in a private sales catalogue nearly 160 years after its theft. The Gondarine Gospel, a rare bible originally owned by Emperor Tewodros II, was featured among rare books intended for sale at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair with a price tag of $250,000.

Ethiopian authorities swiftly demanded that the relic be withdrawn and returned based on moral and ethical principles. The incident has amplified calls for the broader restitution of looted artifacts in Ethiopia and reignited worldwide debates regarding the obligation of Western collectors and museums to return hundreds of thousands of stolen African treasures.

Abebaw Ayalew, head of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA), stated in a letter to the Vienna-based rare book dealer Inlibris that art dealers have a clear moral duty to avoid selling items known to be looted. However, Inlibris rejected the request, with firm head Hugo Wertscherk arguing that no legal grounds for restitution exist because historical laws regulating wartime looting were absent prior to the 18th century, meaning the current owner is not legally required to surrender it.

Bound in glossy leather with intricate gold patterns, the Gondarine Gospel was stolen from the library of Emperor Tewodros. Written in the ancient South Semitic language Ge’ez, the manuscript contains 235 striking illustrations depicting the Gospel of Luke and John. Professor Abreha Kiros of Ethiopia’s Aksum University emphasized that the manuscript holds immense value for studying Ethiopian manuscript culture, ancient Geʽez literature, and the artistic traditions of Gondar.

The manuscript's history dates back to the reign of Emperor Tewodros, who ruled from 1855 until his death at the Battle of Magdala in 1868. After Tewodros imprisoned British diplomats following Queen Victoria's failure to respond to his requests for support, 13,000 troops from British India descended on his court on April 9, 1868. Following the king's suicide, British forces looted Magdala, and British commander Robert Napier took the Gondarine Gospel.

While thousands of relics remain outside Ethiopia, ongoing repatriation efforts have seen some returns, including a lock of hair and a blood-stained cloth belonging to Emperor Tewodros returned by Britain in May. Whether the Gondarine Gospel will also return home remains uncertain as discussions continue between Inlibris, the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, and experts like British historian Alula Pankhurst.