<i>In The News:</i> Naked Theft at the Library; A Large Book Collection Preserved
- by Michael Stillman
Cardiff has solved its rare books problem.
By Michael Stillman
A 52-year-old Michigan man has been arrested in one of the more unusual cases of library book theft in recent memory. Ypsilanti police say the man entered the local public library and stripped naked. He emerged from behind a bookcase, reportedly "thrust his hips" toward the librarian, grabbed some children's books and his clothes, and ran. Police tracked the suspect down a week later, and left a note at his home. The suspect evidently was reasonably cooperative, as he showed up at the police station, then tried to bolt, and finally was chased down and captured by the police. He has been charged with larceny, resisting arrest, and other offenses. At his arraignment, he admitted to at least some of the charges. Meanwhile, the library has begun proceedings to have his library card revoked.
While it is not our role to provide advice to book thieves, it appears that this gentleman's modus operandi suffered from two serious defects. For one, library thieves should not draw undue attention to themselves. Running around the library naked is almost certain to draw unnecessary stares. Secondly, to sneak books out of a library, you need to be able to hide them somewhere.
A collection of thousands of books from the Cardiff, South Wales, U.K., library has been spared from the auction block through contributions from a variety of agencies. Two years ago, the Cardiff City Council announced that it would be sending thousands of antiquarian books to auction, as the city could no longer afford to maintain them. Click here for our earlier report. The decision met with considerable consternation from some local residents, but the city was faced with a budget shortfall and a large collection of books that saw very limited use.
The problem will be resolved by transferring the books, approximately 14,000, to the Cardiff University library. Between them, Cardiff University, The Welsh Assembly Government, and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales contributed £1.2 million to make restoration and transfer possible. Once conservation work is completed, the public will be able to obtain access to the works, while some will be digitized to provide online access from anywhere in the world.
The collection includes 175 items of incunabula, around 500 rare Bibles, numerous 17th century Shakespeare volumes, and later limited edition private press works. Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture Nigel Howells noted, "While the money offered for the book transfer is less than their commercial value," this was the best solution for the city. Cardiff University Vice-Chancellor Jonathan Osmond commented, "the acquisition of a collection of this size, depth and quality will enable Cardiff University to move into the senior league of humanities research collections and to create opportunities for collaborative research across Wales, the U.K. and internationally.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
