What drives people to steal precious books?

This article from the Financial Times focuses on the theft of rare books. But what about the statement that ' “inside jobs” account for upwards of 70 per cent of all library theft in Europe and 80 per cent in the US.'
How do we feel about that statement and the idea of increased internal security? '...the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, where all staff including top directors are searched whenever they leave the building'.

Illuminating images

I've been looking at some of the Books of Hours in the Library's collections. They vary from the highly ornate to the charmingly simple. A Book of Hours was used to guide the owner through a series of prayers and devotions across the day. This miniature of the Nativity is from a Book of Hours from c. 1500 ( ML Safe 1/7e). This scene of the Nativity is traditionally used to indicate Prime - around 6 am.
This image of the Announcement of Christ's Birth to the shepherds is from a late 15th century manuscript from Northern France ( ML Safe 1/7d. Look at the cheeky little grotesque under the image!

David Rumsey Map collection

With my imminent move to the Maps collections at the State Library, Rare diversions will be including maps as well as rare books!
The David Rumsey Map collections site is amazing and an incredible diversion. The link to Visual Collections is also interesting - ' View maps, fine artwork, photographs and other items from over thirty renowned collections '. There are some excellent examples of how technology can be used to highlight and improve access to historical and contemporary collections.

Puddings from the John Hoyle Cookery Collection

In the Everylady's Cook-book (641.5994/120) published in 1938, Miss Drake suggests that as well as cooking the traditional Plum pudding 'because it is part of our Empire inheritance' we should also consider a Fruit and Nut Jelly or 'the 101 degrees in the shade Christmas Pudding', a mixture of raisins, walnuts, almonds, cherries, nutmeg, cinnamon and spice set in an amber jelly made with plenty of fruit juice or wine.


If you are looking for the Christmas Pudding which won first prize at the Melbourne Show you will need to consult Mrs. Floate's "secret of success" Cookery Book. Volume 2 (641.5994/141) published in 1945. Her secret seems to be the appropriate use of suet as well as figs, dates, orange marmalade, treacle and 12 eggs!

For something a little more complicated you may like to consult the 1939 edition of the Green and Gold Cookery Book(641.5994/140), first published in the 1920s, for the Happy Day Pudding.

Take two or more children, according to taste, one skyful of sun, one lawn ( fresh and green ), four trees ( shady ones preferred ), one nursemaid ( out of sight). Take the children, mix well with an armful of dolls, reins, rubber balls, one puppy, one tent, and one rocking horse. When mixed, sprinkle all over with smiles and a pinch of unselfishness. Keep stirring till sundown, then take the children, put in a cool room, cover lightly, and leave till morning.

Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina...

In 2001 the NSW Parliamentary Library raised over $500,000 through the sale of material from their collections. At the time the State Library was offered a number of significant items including the third edition of The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands ( RB/F/374-375) published in 1771.
The hand-coloured engravings in these beautiful volumes were created by English artist and naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) who spent many years in North America drawing and documenting the animal and plant life.
The Catesby Commemorative Trust has produced a film on the life of Mark Catesby.


The Curious Mister Catesby from David Elliott on Vimeo.

The Catesby volumes were a significant addition to the impressive collection of works on ornithology already held by the Library including works by Audubon, Gould, Levaillant,Latham,Buffon and Lewin.

Sloane's 9 Tips To Surviving The Depression As A Rare Bookseller

Thefts at the British Library

An article from the Guardian in the UK from November 21, 2008, describes the theft of single leaves from rare printed works in a number of Libraries in the UK, including the British Library and the Bodleian.
According to the article

'Using electronic records, they found all the British Library members who had taken out the book and then examined other works these people had had contact with. They discovered that other works detailing the same periods in history and covering European engagement to the area from modern-day Syria to Bangladesh were also damaged.'

Without the ability to electronically request, circulate and examine transaction data on our collections how easily could we follow the trail of a suspected thief?