There were curses, transcribed from the Sumerian, called down upon the heads
of book thieves, and those who did not take care of books posted on this
list within the year, but I have lost my copy.
Does anyone have a copy for reposting?
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "White, Eric" <ewhite@post.cis.smu.edu>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <exlibris@library.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 9:47 AM
Subject: RE: verses promising dire punishments to book-thieves
> THere is also an old broadside threat of excommunication for book thieves
> posted at the University of Salamanca -- I can transcribe if anyone
wishes.
>
> Eric White
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Philip R. Bishop [mailto:mosher@ptdprolog.net]
> Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 6:51 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Re: verses promising dire punishments to book-thieves
>
>
> Mr. Dillon:
>
> It might be covered by the general term "anathema." In fact, there is a
> quaint oblong book by Marc Drogin entitled 'ANATHEMA! -- Medieval Scribes
> and the History of Book Curses' (1983).
>
> Phil Bishop
> MOSHER BOOKS
> http://www.stairway.bc.ca/mosher/
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> > Is there a generic term for the (mock-)magical verses that one sometimes
> > encounters in early owners' inscriptions, promising dire punishments to
> > book-thieves?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jay Dillon