American Libraries |
||
Site Navigation
Left Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.
|
||
Hunt Continues for Transylvania University ThievesOfficials of the Transylvania University Library in Lexington, Kentucky, have posted on the library website a detailed description of the 24 rare holdings stolen in December from its special collections. The items are: a first edition of Darwin’s The Origin of Species, published in 1859; 20 sketches done by John James Audubon in preparation for the 1856–57 edition of Birds of America; Hortus Sanitatis, a two-volume natural history from the 16th century that contains hand-painted, gold-illuminated woodcuts; and an illuminated manuscript written in 1425 and hand-painted in color in Winchester, England, for the Knolles family.Director Susan Brown said in the December 30 Lexington Herald-Leader that the items are valued at several hundred thousand dollars for insurance purposes, although in reality it is impossible to place a monetary value on them. The December 17 robbery took place at approximately 11 a.m. on the last day of the semester’s final exams. The alleged thieves, who are described as two white males in their early 20s, overpowered an unidentified library worker before fleeing with the materials. According to press reports, they left in a gray minivan that may have been occupied by two other young white males. Posted January 21, 2005. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
