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Auction: 23025 - Historical Documents, Postal History & Autographs
Lot: 177

(x) Great Britain
Military
Abyssinia Campaign
1868 Sir Clements Markham (1830-1916), official geographer to the expedition, later President of the Royal Geographical Society and promoter of Antarctic exploration.
4pp autograph letter written from Antalo Camp en route to the mountain fortress at Magdala, headquarters of the Abyssinian Emperor, Tewodros, against whom the British were at war.
Markham writes to "Lady Campbell" and reports on the expedition, Sir Robert Napier being "decidedly slow", discusses supplies, cash, his military colleagues and the difficulties en route, his opinion of the Emperor "Hated by the people, and surrounded by enemies, he cannot run away, so I think he will either surrender himself and the captives, or try one fight if his soldiers will stand by him" An important letter from a short lived campaign. The cause of the conflict was the taking of the British Consul and others hostage by the Emperor after a letter written by him in Amharic to Queen Victoria requesting improved diplomatic relations, was ignored. The six month long campaign ended in April 1868 when the British forces stormed Magdala, the Emperor committed suicide, hostages were released and the force then retraced their route and left the country after mission accomplished. Markham later published a History of the Expedition.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£1,200 to £1,500

Starting price
£1000