PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a ceremony held at the U.S. Department of State, a rare 16th-century manuscript was officially returned to the Peruvian government, marking a significant moment in international cultural heritage preservation.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs announced the repatriation of the manuscript on Thursday, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presiding over the event. The Philadelphia case team was present for the handover, which took place in Washington, D.C.
Accepting the manuscript on behalf of the Republic of Peru was Foreign Affairs Minister Javier González-Olaechea. The document will now be returned to its original home at the Archivo General de la Nación del Perú, the Peruvian national archives.
The six-page document, dated June 28, 1599, is no ordinary piece of paper. It represents a contract for the formation of the first theatrical company in the Americas in Lima, Peru. This historical artifact had been a part of the collection at the Rosenbach Museum & Library (the Rosenbach) for nearly a century before it was voluntarily handed over to the FBI in November 2023.
The journey of this manuscript back to its homeland started in 2017 when the Republic of Peru requested assistance from the United States. The FBI Art Crime Team and the United States Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into whether the manuscript pages had been improperly removed from a bound volume in the Peruvian national archives. The Rosenbach fully cooperated with the investigation, which concluded that the manuscript had indeed been removed some time before its purchase by the museum’s founder, Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach, in the 1920s.
U.S. Attorney Romero expressed her pride in assisting the return of the manuscript, stating, “The document represents a unique part of Peru’s history, and its repatriation reflects the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to protecting cultural heritage, not just in our own country, but around the world.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the Bureau’s dedication to preserving global cultural heritage and returning such artifacts to their rightful homes.
This case, handled by Assistant United States Attorney K.T. Newton, exemplifies a significant step forward in international cooperation for cultural heritage preservation. It serves as a testament to the importance of safeguarding historical artifacts and respecting cultural property rights. Furthermore, it underlines the essential role that institutions like the Rosenbach play in identifying and rectifying past injustices in cultural artifact acquisition.
As this centuries-old manuscript returns to Peru, it carries with it the weight of history and the promise of a future where cultural heritage is respected and preserved. But this is just one example of the countless cultural artifacts that have been taken without consent or proper ownership rights. From ancient pottery to sacred religious objects, there are numerous cases of looting and illegal trade of cultural heritage items.
It’s crucial for individuals and institutions alike to understand the significance of these artifacts and their rightful place within a country’s culture. By respecting cultural property rights and working towards repatriation efforts, we can begin to rectify past wrongdoings and preserve our global heritage for future generations.
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