Prints and Ephemera

ETH 2161884 fold-out illustration of Admiral Sir W. Hewett’s Embassy to King John of Abyssinia – signing the treaty between Great Britain and Abyssinia. Also an illustration of Egyptian troops moving to the Ethiopian border. B

Price: $70.00

Note: Khedive Ismail Pasha, emboldened by Egypt’s rise as a significant force in Africa, attempted to colonize both Sudan and Ethiopia in order to create an Egyptian-African Empire. This led to a war with Ethiopia, and amongst other things, the removal of Khedive Ismail from power by the British. The war contributed to the 1882 British occupation of Egypt and its outposts along the Red Sea as it had further drained Khedive Ismail’s coffers and increased the risks of insolvency of his regime. The hostile negotiations for a peace settlement between Egypt and Ethiopia lasted nine years with Britain refusing to support any settlement whereby Egyptians would look as if they had been vanquished. With the rise of the Mahdi of Sudan and his threatening of British and Egyptian interests, Britain foresaw the need for an Egyptian-Ethiopian treaty. Consequently, on June 3, 1884, the Hewett or Adwa Treaty was signed between Ethiopia and Britain, the occupier of Egypt. The principal condition on Ethiopia under this treaty was the facilitation of the evacuation of Egyptian troops from their positions in Sudan and parts of Northern Ethiopia.

ETH 216Emperor Yohannes lost his life on March 9, 1889, during one of the subsequent battles against the Mahdi. In the words of Sven Rubenson, Yohannes through the treaty traded “one weak enemy (Egypt) for two strong ones, the Mahdists and Italy”. Paranoia that Egypt without the Nile, a barren desert, was a liability as opposed to an asset and fearful that France, Britain’s bitter colonial rival, would encroach on the waters of the Nile led to the Anglo-Italian collusion over Ethiopia. Britain was prepared to guard the White Nile; however, they wanted someone to watch over the Blue Nile and its Ethiopian sources and tributaries. The Italians were desperate to colonize Ethiopia and Britain was ready to support them so long as they watched over Britain’s imperial interests. Thus, Britain gave Massawa to Italy in 1885-1886 and the dramatic and costly Italian attempts at colonizing Ethiopia ensued. Britain had thus disposed of its responsibility under the Hewett Treaty, which required that Massawa remain under British protections.

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Group of 7 illustrations on early Italian colonial Eritrea. Shown are the arrival of General Orera at Adua, the trial of Hamed Kantibai, Barambaras Kafel, elementary school at Massaua founded by Father Bianchi, Italians with Eritreans at Massaua, Italian school at Arkiko. Also an illustration of an Abyssinian war fantasia. B

Price: $200.00

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Three fold-out illustrations of early colonial-period fighting in Eritrea and Tigre. The first is the first battle between Italy and Mahdist Sudan, at Agordat, which took place on June 27, 1890. Violence began when a force of 1,000 Mahdists raided the Beni Amer, "a tribe under Italian protection. After that, the Sudanese continued on to the wells at Agordat, where they were met by two companies of Italian-led ascari. The battle that ensued was an Italian victory, with 250 Mahdists killed. Italian losses were three dead and eight wounded.

ETH 214ETH 214The second is the Battle of Dogali which was fought on 26 January 1887 between Italy and Ethiopia in Dogali near Massawa, in present-day Eritrea. A battalion of roughly 550 men (mostly Italians, including 22 officers, and a few Eritrean Askari) under Colonel Tommaso De Cristofori, were sent to reinforce the Italian garrison at Sahati. Ras Alula learned of their departure from spies, and before they could arrive at the fortification they had erected, he attacked them at Dogali and entirely defeated them. Although the Italians were well-armed with modern rifles, cannon, and machine guns, they were outnumbered 14 to 1; they fought back against the Ethiopians and held out for hours, but they eventually exhausted all their ammunition. Nearly all were killed, except for eighty wounded men who were able to escape, unnoticed by the Ethiopians.

The third is the Battle of Amba Sion (Haramat) near Adua in the Tigrè region between the forces of Ras Alula and Degiac Sejum, 1890. B

Price: $120.00

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Group of 5 illustrations relating to the 1867 Abyssinian Expedition, King Tewodros II and his son. Shown are Emperor Tewodros II in the Tecazze valley en route to his fate at the Battle of Magdala, an English convoy en route to Magdala, Captain Cameron and the other Abyssinian captives and Prince Alameo. B

Price: $130.00

Note: In October 1862, Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia, sent a letter to Queen Victoria which asked for an alliance. The British ignored the letter. Nearly two years later, when no response came, Tewodros imprisoned the British envoy and other Europeans in anger. This diplomatic incident led to the formation of an Anglo-Indian military expedition to Ethiopia. Sir Robert Napier was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command. A British army of as many as 32,000 men was assembled.

Napier paid money and weapons to Kassa Mercha, a Dejazmatch of Tigray, in order to secure passage inland. On April 9 or 10, 1868, on the plateau of Argoi below Magdala (or Mek’dela, Magdela, Amba Maryam), British troops defeated the main imperial force. British and Indian battle losses are estimated at 29 wounded while the Abyssinians are believed to have suffered at least 500 killed and thousands wounded in the Battle of Arogi. ETH 213ETH 213The next day, Tewodros released the prisoners held in Madgala, but it was not enough to save Tewodros. On April 13 (or 15), the British stormed the fortress of Magdala. That evening, Tewodros committed suicide. Soon afterwards, the British burned Magdala and left the country. Total Anglo-Indian losses are estimated in one source to number 400; total Abyssinian losses are estimated to be 1000. For his victory, Napier was rewarded with titles, the thanks of Parliament, and an annual pension of £2000.

On the death of Tewodros in 1868, Sahle Miriam, as Negus of Shawa, aspired to the position of Emperor. But he was not the only claimant and had to submit first to Tekle Giorgis (1867-1872) and Yohannes (or John) IV (1872-1879), a dejazmatch (earl) of Tigray. Like Tewodros, John IV (original name was Kassa) was a strong progressive ruler, but he had to spend most of his time repelling military threats from Egypt, Italy and the Mahdist’s of the Sudan. John’s main rival for power was Menilek II, king of Shewa, who did not recognize John as emperor until 1878/1879, after a military defeat. Menelik’s eclipse, however, was only temporary.

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