diff --git a/gspread/models.py b/gspread/models.py
index 9368b7f06..298f81cd8 100644
--- a/gspread/models.py
+++ b/gspread/models.py
@@ -166,8 +166,12 @@ def __init__(self, spreadsheet, element):
         self._id = element.find(_ns('id')).text.split('/')[-1]
         self._title = element.find(_ns('title')).text
         self._element = element
-        self.version = self._get_link(
-            'edit', element).get('href').split('/')[-1]
+        try:
+            self.version = self._get_link(
+                'edit', element).get('href').split('/')[-1]
+        except:
+            # not relevant for read-only spreadsheets
+            self.version = None
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<%s %s id:%s>' % (self.__class__.__name__,