A Handlist of the Manuscripts in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Volume One
The Gǝ’ǝz and Amharic Materials of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tradition
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2025
FritzSearch.com earns a commission on purchases made through Bookshop.org links.
Publisher's Description
The Institute of Ethiopian Studies is home to the largest collection of Ethiopian manuscripts in the world. This volume provides a catalog of one subset of the manuscripts: those in Ge'ez and Amharic, which were mostly produced by members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. There are six introductory essays that provide information about the developments and project, which led to the digitization of the collection in 2010; the history of the IES collection; the cataloging approach; the digitization process; the rationale for undertaking this endeavor; and a short description of some of the illuminated manuscripts in the IES. The catalog provides short handlist entries for 1,530 in the IES that were prepared by qasis Melaku Terefe with assistance from Steve Delamarter and Jeremy Brown. The final passes were carried out by Jacopo Gnisci and Jeremy Brown, with special attention to technical matters of cataloguing, lists, and indexing. Back matter includes lists of IES Manuscripts arranged by shelf mark and a concordance with pieces microfilmed by the EMML Project, as well as lists of dated or datable and undated codices and magic scrolls. These are followed by indexes of works, miniatures, names, and places in the manuscripts and an index of names of owners in the magic scrolls. Forty-two plates showcase in full detail some highlights from the collection.
Endorsements (3)
“I enthusiastically endorse A Handlist of the Manuscripts in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. The authors have meticulously catalogued the diverse manuscripts housed within our esteemed Institute, making it an invaluable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts passionate about Ethiopian studies. Its comprehensive coverage, meticulous scholarship, and user-friendly format make it essential for any library or research collection dedicated to Ethiopian textual study. I wholeheartedly recommend it to those interested in Ethiopia’s cultural heritage.”
“After over fifteen years in preparation, Delamarter and Gnisci introduce a carefully researched catalogue of 1,530 parchment manuscripts from the Institute of Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa University. They date from the fourteenth to twentieth century and provide an unparalleled and virtually untouched view of the economic, social, political, and cultural history of the country. The volume covers 330 pages and is accompanied by 142 excellent color plates.”
“An excellent handlist providing a wealth of information about the collection of manuscripts at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies accompanied by introductory notes containing detailed information about the history of the manuscripts and their digitization as well as some aspects of their illumination. For scholars conducting research on Ethiopia’s manuscript culture or manuscripts in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies specifically, this book can be considered an invaluable resource.”
See something wrong on this page? Report a problem