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Mandela: Calder cashed in
12/05/2005 08:09 - (SA)
Yvonne Beyers, Beeld
Johannesburg - About 950 leather-bound and illustrated copies of former president Nelson Mandela's autobiography were apparently advertised for about R33 000 each after his signature was allegedly forged in the books.
According to court documents handed in at the Johannesburg High Court by Mandela's legal team earlier this week, Mandela claims that Ross Calder, who marketed Mandela's artwork, gave the Robben Island Museum at the V&A Waterfront permission to market and sell the books.
The sales of these copies of The Long Walk to Freedom, dedicated to Mandela's children and grandchildren, would have totalled about R31.35m.
One of the copies of the book could apparently be sold immediately, while the rest would have to be ordered.
"I never gave anyone permission to sell the book in this format (as advertised by the Robben Island Museum). I never signed copies of such books and the so-called signature in them was produced in an illegal way," reads Mandela's sworn statement.
"I don't know where Calder got permission to sell the copies of my book in the advertised format. I invite Calder, (Ismail) Ayob and (their companies) Abeille, Ad Point, Harmonieux, Magnifique and Tinancier to explain on whose authority they told the museum to advertise and sell the book."
"I also invite them to explain how the signature in the book came to be affixed thereon."
According to Mandela, his legal representative in London, Igbal Meer, confirmed that he never entered into an agreement with anyone to bind Madiba's book in leather and to sell it at the museum.
Neither Calder, nor Ayob, was available for comment on Wednesday.
- Beeld
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