A print of a sketch by Nelson Mandela has been stolen in Liverpool.
The late former South African president’s drawing ‘Imprisonment’ was taken from St George’s Hall just hours before it was due to go on public display.
One of Mandela’s daughters, Dr Makaziwi Mandela, originally gifted the limited edition print to the Mandela8 charity on a visit to South Africa in 2018.
It was taken from the Mandela Room at the Grade I-listed building with CCTV showing a man leaving the building at 7.45am last Monday (October 13).
The frame which held the drawing, part of Mandela’s ‘Struggle Series’, was damaged and left in what the charity believe may be a targeted art theft.
Merseyside Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the incident.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “We are taking this theft extremely seriously, and have conducted extensive enquiries to establish what happened and to identify the offender.
“This print was a highly valued addition to the Mandela Room at St George’s Hall, and anyone who has visited since it was gifted in 2018 will have seen the powerful image.
“It had been gifted to the Liverpool-based Mandela8 organisation that year by Dr Makaziwi Mandela, a daughter of Nelson Mandela. It shows a pair of hands bound, above the word imprisonment and Nelson Mandela’s signature.
“We would urge anyone with any information on this incident or anyone who has seen the art work since it was taken on 13 October to contact us as soon as possible.”