1898. [ETHIOPIAN RAILROADS] CHEMINS DE FER ETHIOPIENS.

Title: Railway Lines of Ethiopia
Date: August 10, 1898
Signature: Facsimile, pen
Dimensions: 32.5 x 43 cm (65 x 43 cm with coupons)
Coupons: Yes, all
Category: Railroads, colonial documents
Condition: VF-
Denomination: 500 Francs
Description: PAPER ISSUED IN PARIS, THE SEAT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE IMPERIAL ETHIOPIAN RAILWAY COMPANY. AN EXCEPTIONALLY INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF A BEAUTIFUL RAILROAD STOCK FROM OVER 125 YEARS AGO. UNIQUE DECORATIVE MOTIFS FEATURING A VIEW OF AN APPROACHING TRAIN BEFORE THE PROCESSION OF THE EMPEROR OF ETHIOPIA—THE NEGUS. THE RULER HIMSELF, WEARING A THREE-PART CROWN WITH A CROSS, ON A BLACK STALLION, SURROUNDED BY WARRIORS AND AN ENTOURAGE WITH A CANOPY, WHILE IN THE BACKGROUND ARE CAMELS CARRYING PACKAGES INTENDED FOR THE TRAIN. ON THE BORDER, A LION AS A SYMBOL OF ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST, SYMBOLICALLY LINKED TO THE ADOPTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN ETHIOPIA. ALSO, BEAUTIFUL FLORAL AND GEOMETRIC MOTIFS ON THE BORDER. AN IMPRESSIVELY LARGE PIECE, OVER HALF A METER IN SIZE INCLUDING THE COUPONS! A TRUE RARITY ON THE POLISH ANTIQUES MARKET.