The Hernandarias Manuscript Returns Home

A 13-page manuscript from 1598, penned by Spanish colonial governor Hernando Arias de Saavedra and detailing laws governing Indigenous life in Paraguay, has been repatriated after being stolen from the nation's archives over a decade ago. Valued at $20,000, the document resurfaced at a Manhattan auction house in 2013 and was later listed for sale by Upper West Side rare book dealer Martayan Lan. Prompted by a tip from Paraguay's Consul General, the Manhattan District Attorney's Antiquities Trafficking Unit facilitated its return.

A poignant reminder of the enduring importance of provenance and ethical stewardship in the world of rare books.

(Source: West Side Rag)