"Cédula de excomunion" at the Bibliotheca de Universidad, Salamanca:
HAI EXCOMUNION /
RESERVADA A SU SANTIDAD /
CONTRA QUALESQUIERA PERSONAS, /
QUE QUITAREN, DISTRAXEREN, O DE OTRO QUALQUIER MODO /
ENAGENAREN ALGUN LIBRO, PERGAMINO, O PAPEL /
DE ESTA BIBLIOTHECA, /
SIN QUE PUEDAN SER ABSUELTAS /
HASTA QUE ESTA ESTÉ PERFECTAMENTE REINTEGRADA.
[Printed in red and black, 17th century?]
I'm working from a postcard sent to me by my grandmother, now posted on the door to the Special Collections Reading Room here. I trust it's been published somewhere more responsibly!
Eric White
Bridwell Library
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Read [mailto:bread@bluevalley.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 10:12 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: verses promising dire punishments to book-thieves
Please - go for it!
Barb
> 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