RBMS Security Committee: Theft Reports 2007
This is a list of incidents reported in the public media and on open listservs, such as Exlibris. The "Incidents of Theft" list was begun in 1987 and is updated by a member of the RBMS Security Committee. Although known to be incomplete, the list does provide an indication of the extent and variety of reported and alleged thefts. For reports in the Exlibris electronic discussion list since April 1991, consult the list archives.
The following list contains notices of thefts that occurred or were reported from January 2007 to December 2007. For additional coverage or for information on how to report notices for possible inclusion on the list, please consult the cumulative index.
2007
December 2007
Three rare manuscripts have been reported missing from Tehran’s Reza Abbasi Museum. Two of the manuscripts were transcribed by Ahmad Neirizi and Mirza Gholamreza, both calligraphers of the Safavid and Qajar eras.
Source: Article, "Three rare manuscripts stolen from Reza Abbasi Museum," posted on the Tehran Times web site, Dec. 6, 2007.
University of New Mexico police have issued warrants to five people suspected of stealing library books from various universities and selling them to bookstores at other campuses. The police began the investigation following the discovery of library tags in books sold to the Central New Mexico Community College's bookstore. Police suspect there are at least 12 individuals involved in the sale of the material, which so far totals about $3,000. So far, the department found that 30 books were stolen from the Health Sciences Library, 12 from CNM's library and a couple from the University of Texas-El Paso. Officials suspect the group may also be active at NMSU, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and schools in California.
Source: Article, "Suspects at large in book-theft ring," by Jeremy Hunt, posted on the Daily Lobo (New Mexico) web site, Dec. 5, 2007.
November 2007
The Foreign Ministry of Spain has reported nearly 300 "highly valued" books have been stolen or lost from its library within the last few years. Among the missing items are several 16th century maps, in addition to a valuable collection of
18th-century maps of the coastline of northern Europe. The missing items were discovered during a recent inventory. Police suspect thieves took advantage of the poor security at the library.
Source: Article, "New outbreak of map pilfering in ministry library," on Expatica.com, Nov. 15, 2007.
Two historical manuscripts have been reported missing from the Leonia Public Library, in Leonia, New Jersey. The two documents are:
1- May 20, 1754
Bond to be paid by John F[?] the sum of 20 pounds
2- September 12, 1810 (itemized bill for shoes made out to) "Richard Vrelend"
"A pair for the Wench" (an adult slave)
"One shoe for Nitchy Patch" (a slave child)
(this is a partial list)
Both are written in brown water based ink on foxed paper. Any information regarding these items, please contact: Harriet Burdock, Archivist, Local History Collection, Leonia Public Library, Leonia, NJ 07605; phone: 201-592-5770; fax: 201-592-5775; Deborah Bigelow, Director, Leonia Public Library; phone: 201-592-5776; or, Gina Webb-Metz, Assistant Director, Leonia Public Library; phone: 201-592-5774.
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, Nov. 15, 2007.
October 2007
Thomas Pilaar, of Dever, Colorado, is being investigated for allegedly checking out more than $45,000 worth of materials, mostly DVDs, from four area library systems with intent to sell them online. Police suspect Pilaar of getting seven library cards under different names and selling some of the borrowed material. He is also suspected of thefts from the Aurora Public Library and the public library systems in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. Pilaar was arrested in early August and is being held without bond.
Source: American Libraries article, "Man investigated in Colorado theft," October 2007.
UPDATE: A man accused of checking out hundreds of books and DVDs from libraries around the Denver area and then trying to sell them will be doing all his library borrowing from now on behind bars. Denver prosecutors say 34-year-old Thomas Pilaar was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered Tuesday to pay $53,549 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in May. Of an estimated 1,400 books and DVDs that were taken, about 500 have been recovered. Denver Public Library estimated it had lost $35,000, while Douglas County said it had $11,000 worth of overdue items. Authorities were tipped off by a woman who recently bought books on Craigslist and noticed the library identification stamps.
Source: Article, The Associated Press, “Colorado book borrower must spend time in prison”, denverpost.com (http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_9826104),
July 9, 2008, and Exlibris electronic discussion list, July 9, 2008
UPDATE: Ten of the fifteen maps reportedly taken from the National Library by Cesar Gomez Rivero, a researcher, have been returned. Rivero, despite admitting to cutting out the maps and selling them over a period of years, is currently in custody in Argentina, but has yet been charged.
Source: Article, "New outbreak of map pilfering in ministry library," on Expatica.com, Nov. 15, 2007.
UPDATE: In the United States, the FBI has recovered one of the maps taken from the 1482 edition of Ptolemy’s Cosmographia. The map, valued at $140,000, was in the possession of a New York collector, although it is not known if the collector knew the map had been stolen.
In Australia, police recovered another map taken from the 1482 edition of Ptolemy’s Cosmographia. The map had been purchased at an auction in London by an Australian antiques dealer. Police suspect a Spanish national of Uruguayan origin living in Argentina of the thefts.
Sources: Articles "El FBI rescata en Nueva York un mapa robado en la Biblioteca Nacional," from El Pais (Madrid), Oct. 9, 2007, and "Confiscado en Australia uno de los mapas robados en la Biblioteca," from El Pais (Madrid), Oct. 12, 2007, by Jesus Duva.
An unidentified Italian man has been named a suspect in the theft of dozens of books, drawings and watercolors, valued at close to $1 million, taken from libraries and public archives in Rome. The suspect, who is currently cooperating with authorities and has not yet been arrested, had been convicted in the past for similar thefts in various other cities throughout Italy. Authorities recovered material including 17th-century diaries, drawings that chronicled life in Rome, scientific books and watercolors dating back to 1700. Some of the unrecovered material was sold in Italy and overseas, particulary in France.
Source: Associated Press story, "Italian police investigate book thief, recover dozens of items," from Oct. 1 , 2007.
September 2007
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries has reported the theft of the Andrew Scher papers. The theft was discovered on May 18, 2007. Individuals with information are encouraged to contact either Michael Doylen, Archives Department Head, at (414) 229-6980 or Kim Silbersack, Facilities Head, at (414) 229-6206.
Source: E-mail to Theft Reports, Sept. 10, 2007.
Two maps from the 1482 edition of Ptolemy’s Cosmographia have been reported missing from the National Library of Spain. The missing maps, valued at $100,000 each, were discovered missing during a routine stock check in August.
Source: Article, "Library head resigns after rare maps stolen," by Thomas Caitlin, TimesOnLine, Sept. 1, 2007.
July 2007
The following books have been reported missing (and presumed stolen) by Cassandra Joffre of B & L Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts:
I. PISSINUS, Sebastiani Lucensis.
De cordis palpitatione cognoscenda, & curanda libri duo. Frankfurt:
Claudium Marnium & heredes Ioannis Aubrii, 1609. 8vo. 193, [23] pp., including index. Woodcut printer's device to title, chapter initials, head and tailpieces. Contemporary limp vellum with remnants of ties, title in manuscript on spine; small wormhole at inner margin of a few leaves (text not affected). Contemporary ownership inscription of the Collegii Paris Societ[atis] Jesu to title.
II. SKODA, Joseph. Abhandlung uber Perkussion und Auskultation. Vienna: Mosle's Witwe & Braumuller, 1839. 8vo. xviii, [ii], 271, [1] pp. Contemporary quarter-calf over marbled boards, extremities somewhat worn. From the library of Dr. Ferdinand Vielguth of Vienna on first flyleaf.
III. BURNET, Thomas. Archaeologiae philosophica, or, The ancient doctrine concerning the originals of things; Dr. Burnet's theory of the visible world; by way of commentary onhis own theory of the Earth, being the second part of his Archaeologiae philosophica, written in Latin by Thomas Burnet, LL.D., master of the Charter-House. Faithfully translated into English, with remarks thereon, by Mr. Foxton (with): [Jonchère, Etienne Lécuyer de La]. The immobility of the Earth demonstrated by reasons drawn from the established rules of physics, mechanics, and geometry. Proving the Earth to be in the center of theUniverse; and that all the Celestial Bodies perform their diurnial motions round it, and not the sun. In opposition to the solar system, [translated by J[ohn] M[organ]. London: Printed for E. Curll, 1729. Three books in one (first title in two parts). 8vo. [viii], xxxii, [viii], viii, 90, 6, 40; 96, 41-104, 32 pp. (pages 41-104 mis-bound). Separate title to each book. Contemporary Cambridge binding (small piece torn away at hinges), spine decorated in gilt; fly leaves stained, sporadic browning on text and a few minor worm holes. From the library of Abner Jackson,Trinity College, with his bookplate and withdrawn stamp.
Any information relating to the missing books, please contact:
Cassandra Joffre
B & L Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts, ABAA, ILAB, ABA
(818) 788-7765
Fax: (818) 788-8839
PO Box 5049
Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91403
blroot@rootenbergbooks.com
www.rootenbergbooks.com
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, July 27, 2007.
June 2007
Police in Gaya, India have recovered 19 of 110 pages of a rare manuscript, "Gulistan," authored by the 17th century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The manuscript, written in Persian, and valued at Rs.10 million (roughly $248,000), was stolen from the Tekari Raj High School library in Gaya some time between January and June 2007. Police suspect international smugglers were involved.
Source: Museum Security Network (1 June 2007) discussion list.
May 2007
An atlas has been reported missing from a New York history center. The atlas, stolen between April 20 and April 22, is described as such:
Philadelphia: H.S. Tanner, 1823. Folio (22 5/8 x 15 3/4 inches). Letterpress half-title, 1p. index and 18pp. text. Engraved title with vignette of the "First Landing of Columbus in the New World", 22 fine hand-coloured double-page engraved maps. Contemporary red half morocco, the flat spine divided into six compartments by double fillets, lettered in the second, the other compartments with repeat decoration of a single centrally-placed square arabesque tool, modern cloth box, morocco lettering-piece on 'spine'.
There are specific condition notes to this atlas: a majority of the pages have some sort of water-like stains both large and small throughout, which are mostly contained along the edges of the 18 pages of text. All of the maps are in good condition with a few water stains, with the exception of the large map on the last pages. This fold-out map has binding tape holding it together, when folded open the pages are crisp along the creases. The exterior has general wear throughout both red leather coverings. The binding has some damage and a library catalog sticker.
Please contact Julia Hickey at 920-366-1695, or the Clarkstown Police Department of Rockland County, N.Y. at (845) 639.5800.
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, May 5, 2007.
UPDATE: Rebecca Streeter-Chen, a former Rockland Historical Society curator, surrendered to police on May 31, after being caught trying to sell the Tanner atlas to the Philadelphia Print Shop. The owner, Christopher Lane, had suspected the atlas had been stolen and contacted police.
Source: Article, "Former Rockland Historical Society curator charged in theft of rare book," by Steve Lieberman, The Journal News (Lower Hudson Valley, N.Y.), June 1, 2007.
April 2007
A Massey University (Palmerston, New Zealand) librarian, Karen Dale Churton, was senteced to 11 months in jail after being charged in the theft of six rare books from the university's library. Between March 2002 and March 2003, Churton removed the books from the library and deleted the records from the library catalog. The books, many of which were sold overseas, were valued at over $23,000. In addition to jail time, Churton has paid back $23,000 in reparation.
Source: Article in Manawatu Standard (New Zealand), "The rare book thief, a true story," by Anthony Hubbard, posted on April 12, 2007.
March 2007
According to UCLA police, a bound volume of documents, from a collection about the politically powerful Orsini family of Rome, was stolen sometime between February 9th and 12th, 2007. The 208-page volume of texts and illustrations from 1715 to 1736 is about the Orsini palace in Rome and was part of a large collection that the UCLA Library acquired in 1964. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact UCLA police detectives at (310) 825-9371.
Source: Article, "Rare Book Stolen from UCLA Library: Authorities investigate theft of rare manuscript from UCLA library special collection," Associated Press, March 1, 2007
A large number of books were stolen from a private library of a local estate in Madison, N.H. during the weekend of Febraury 16-18. The books, from the library of Harvard philosopher William Ernest Hocking (1873-1966), are valued at more then $65,000. A complete list of the missing books can be found at the following site.
Anyone coming across these books or having any information about them is asked to contact Chief John Pickering or Sergeant James Mullins of the Madison Police Department at 603-367-8334.
Source: Article, "Rare books stolen from Madison, N.H. estate," posted March 13, 2007, on Antiques and the Arts Online.
Denning McTague, a summer intern who worked in the National Archives in 2006, has been charged in the theft of 165 Civil War-ear documents, which he subsequently sold on e-Bay. McTague was responsible for the arrangement and organization of documents for the Civil War 2011-2015 sesquicentennial. He was caught after another dealer discovered the documents being sold on-eBay and contacted the National Archives. At least 161 of the 165 documents have been recovered.
Source: Museum Security Network (17 March 2007) discussion list.
UPDATE: Denning McTague, who pleaded guilty to the thefts, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.
Source: Article, "Intern Gets 15 Months for Archives Theft," by Maryclaire Dale, from the Washington Post, July 12, 2007.
Approximately 50-60 antique maps, worth nearly $20,000, were stolen from Ted L. Canaday Old and Rare Books, in Harrisburg, Pa., sometime between February 8 and February 15. Most were copperplate engravings from the 18th and early 19th centuries, with a few exceptions dating as early as the 1580s and as late as the middle to latter parts of the 19th century.
A detailed list of maps missing is located here.
Anyone with information regarding these maps should contact Ted Canaday at 717-574-0092 or by e-mail at canadaytl@comcast.net
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, March 3, 2007.
An 18th century Italian manuscript was stolen from a display case in the special collections area of the Charles E. Young Research Library between February 8 and February 12. The parchment-covered book, valued at about $7,500, was part of an exhibit concerning the Orsini family.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact UCLA police detectives at (310) 825-9371.
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, March 1, 2007.
A package of 19 books arrived empty to the Department of Special Collections and Rare Books of the University of Minnesota Libraries. It could not be determined if the package had been ripped open or had broken open. The books were the personal property of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, whose library was burned by the Nazis on May 10, 1933. The titles of the books are:
1. Magnus Hirschfeld: Die Homosexualitt des Mannes und des Weibes, 1912.
2. Jahrbuch fr sexuelle Zwischenstufen 6.1904.
3. Magnus Hirschfeld: Die Weltreise eines Sexualforschers, 1933 (mit Schutzumschlag).
4. Magnus Hirschfeld, Andreas Gaspar (Hg.): Sittengeschichte der jngsten Zeit-Sittengschichte des Weltkrieges Band, 1930.
5. dito, Band 2, 1930.
6. Magnus Hirschfeld, Andreas Gaspar (Hg.): Sittengeschichte der jngsten Zeit-Sittengeschichte der Nachkriegszeit, Bd. 1, 1931.
7. Magnus Hirschfeld, Berndt Gtz: Sexualgeschichte der Menschheit, 1929
8. dies.: Das erotische Weltbild, 1929. Magnus Hirschfeld: Sexualpathologie
9. Band 2, 1918
10. Band 3, 1920. Magnus Hirschfeld: Geschlechtskunde
11. Band 4: Bilderteil, 1930.
12. Band 5: Register, 1930. Diese Bucher enthielten ein lose beigelegtes Exlibris (siehe Anlage) auf gelblichem Karton
bzw. waren als "additional gift" (Nr. 1) gekennzeichnet. Weitere sieben Bnde aus dem Dublettenbestand der Magnus-Hirschfeld-Gesellschaft wurden nicht einzeln aufgelistet; alle mit einem beigelegten Vermerk: "additional gift"
13. Magnus Hirschfeld: Von Einst bis Jetzt, ed. by Manfred Herzer and James D. Steakley. 1986.
14 & 15. [Selection from] Jahrbuch fr sexuelle Zwischenstufen, vols 1 and 2. ed. by Johann Wolfgang Schmidt. Frankfurt: Qumran 1984
16, 17, 18, & 19 - titles missing at this time.
If there is any information concerning these titles, please contact: Jean-Nickolaus Tretter at trett007@umn.edu or Tim Johnson at johns976@umn.edu.
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, March 1, 2007.
February 2007
The following books have been stolen from the Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University Library. Should anyone have information about any of these books, please contact: David Easterbrook, Curator of the Herskovits Library at 847-491-4549 or via email: <mailto:dleaster@northwestern.edu> dleaster@northwestern.edu
1. Galibert, Leon. L'Algerie ancienne et moderne. Paris, 1854.
2. Genty de Bussy, Pierre. L'Etablissement des francais dans la regence d'Alger. Paris, 1839.
3. La Faye, Jean Baptiste de. Voyage pour le redemption des captifs, aux royaumes d'Alger et de Tunis. Paris, 1721.
4. La Faye, Jean Baptiste de. A voyage to Barbary for the redemption of captives, Now first English ed. from the French original. London, 1735.
5. Lieussou, Aristide. Etudes sur les ports de l'Algerie. Paris, 1850.
6. Martin, Maria. History of the captivity and sufferings of Maria Martin. N.Y., 1913.
7. Renaudot. Alger. Tableau du royaume, de la ville Alger. 4th ed. Paris, 1830.
8. Renault, B., ed. Histoire pittoresque de l'Afrique francaise. Paris, 1847.
9. Rumigny, Marie Theodore Gueilly. Essai sur la Province d'Alger. Paris, 1841.
10. Salame, Abraham. A narrative of the expedition to Algiers in the year 1816. London, 1819.
11. Walker, Thomas H. B. The presidents of Liberia. Jacksonville, Fla., 1915.
12. Africa redeemed: or, the means of her relief illustrated by the growth and prospects of Liberia. London, 1851.
13. Bayley, Solomon. A brief account of the colony of Liberia. (Wilmington, DE., 1829?)
Russell Maylone
Curator
McCormick Library of Special Collections
Northwestern Univ. Library
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208-2300
847-491-2894
email: r-maylone@northwestern
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, February 12, 2007.
January 2007
A rare title published in Saint Petersburg in 1892, "History and Monuments of Byzantine Enamel," was stolen over the New Year holidays from the Institute of History and Material Culture under the Russian Academy of Sciences. No further information is known.
Source: Museum Security Network (10 January 2007) discussion list.
The following material has been reported missing from the New Jersey Antiquarian Book Fair:
Stolen on the morning of January 13, 2007:
CHANDLER, Raymond. Farewell, My Lovely
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Men Without Women (2 copies)
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms (2 copies)
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Fiesta
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Winner Take Nothing
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls
KEROUAC, Jack. On the Road
LE CARRE, John. A Murder of Quality
LEE, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird
SABATINI, Rafael. Captain Blood
TRAVEN, B. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
WELTY, Eudora. The Wide Net and Other Stories
Full descriptions and high resolution images of each of these stolen books can be seen at:
http://www.betweenthecovers.com/btc/private
Username: stolen
Password: books
Dan Gregory
General Manager
Between the Covers Rare Books, Inc., ABAA/ILAB
35 W Maple Ave Merchantville NJ 08109
(856) 665-2284 Fax (856) 665-2284
Source: Exlibris electronic discussion list, January 16, 2007.
UPDATE: Richard Lunden, of Hudson, N.Y., was arrested in New York City in November, 2007, after he tried to sell the stolen books to a book dealer in Manhattan. Police have recovered all but one of the books stolen. Lunden is free pending a municipal court hearing.
Source: Article, "Man accused of stealing, trying to sell classic books," by Bill Swayze, posted on the Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) website, Nov. 30, 2007.
A Charles Goldie painting, a set of seven Colin McCahon poems and an unbound copy of the Oxford Lectern Bible were stolen from Auckland University over the holidays. Although the perimeter doors of the library were alarmed, the thieves were able to break into a window which was not alarmed. They then broke through a bolted door to the special collections area. The poems were taken from secure hangings on the wall and the Bible removed from a glass case. An investigation is underway.
Source: Article, "Art thieves snatch Goldie, McCahons in library raid," by Elizabeth Binning, New Zealand Herald, Jan. 6, 2007.