Theft Report

[Susan Allen <sallen@HOBBES.KZOO.EDU>]

>From "The Journal of Art," Jan. 1995:
     "St. Petersburg [Russia].  A robbery of manuscripts from the Russian
National Library in St. Petersburg has taken place on a scale unprecendented
in the Library's entire history...  Information...indicates that around
eighty-nine ancient manuscripts from Eastern and Western Europe...have been
stolen.  ...the stolen items date from the thirteenth to eighteenth
centuries, although some earlier items have also been mentioned: an
eight-century parchment version of the Koran; an Indian album of drawings on
palm leaves ...other Persian, Mongol and Tibetan manuscripts.  ...the
library's Director, Vladimir Zaitsey, has said that he believes the robbery
was an operation planned well in advance, possibly from abroad..."

This report does not indicate when the theft was discovered.  Interpol has
been alerted, so if you have any information, please contact Angela Meadows,
Interpol, 202-272-8383 Ext. 66.
Posted by Susan M. Allen, Chair, ACRL/RBMS Security Committee,
sallen@kzoo.edu