Using the Internet to Report Rare Book and Manuscript Thefts

Abstract

The Book of St. Mary and St. Nicholas in Arrinstein. If anyone pilfers it, may he die the death, be boiled in a cauldron, may epilepsy and fever overtake him, may he be broken on the wheel and hanged. Amen.1

Formal and informal means now exist for networking nationally to inform libraries, archives, booksellers, and law enforcement personnel regarding rare book and manuscript theft. Networking has been effective in solving a number of cases and recovering stolen material.

The Internet and the many listservs and bulletin boards on it have become especially effective networking tools. For example, EXLIBRIS, a bulletin . . .