Postcard Collections

IEAPC 180

2 colonial postcards of historically important Lake Ashenge in Ethiopia. B ASK FOR AVAILABILITY

Price: $40.00

Note from Wikipedia: On August 29, 1542, Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, the leader of the Adal Sultanate, advanced upon the Portuguese stockade near Ofla on the southern side of Ashenge, where he fought the Battle of Ofla and prevailed, afterwards capturing and killing the leader Cristóvão da Gama. Another notable battle that took place on the shores of this lake was the Battle of Lake Ashenge on 9 October 1909, when Dejazmach Abate Bwalu defeated the rebel forces of Dejazmach Abraha Araya. On 3 April 1936, thousands of soldiers of the Ethiopian Empire were killed with poison gas all around Lake Ashenge. The soldiers were withdrawing from the Battle of Maychew during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. As they withdrew, the Italians sprayed and bombed the area around the lake with mustard gas to deadly effect. On 4 April, Emperor Haile Selassie I looked with despair upon the horrific sight of the dead bodies of his army ringing the poisoned lake.

IEAPC 179

5 colonial postcards of different fortified mountains and passes in Ethiopia, used by the Ethiopians and later by the Italians. Shown are Amba Alagi/Arcai/Chidane Meret and Passo Uarieu. B ASK FOR AVAILABILITY

Price: $100.00

Note: Amba Alagi has played a central and defining role in every colonial conflict in Ethiopia. It was also the last stand of the Italian army against the British in 1941.

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