Murder and the Book Trade
Nineteenth-century crime had a literature of its own that sensationally described crimes, dying speeches, and executions. This "gallows' literature" was hawked by vendors to huge crowds that gathered to witness executions. In addition to profiting from crime and execution, members of the book trade occasionally participated in such events as witnesses or, unfortunately, victims.
The awful execution of James Cook, who was executed at Leicester, for the cruel and barbarous murder of Mr. Pass [i.e. Paas], by striking him on the head with an iron crow bar, and afterwards cutting up the body and consuming it on a fire. Leicester: Printed and Sold by J. Waddington [1832].
Newberry Library Case Wing oversize Z 4318 .P113
Horrid murder of a gentleman, who was first murdered, then cut to pieces, and afterwards burnt! Wakefield: T. Nichols [1832].
Newberry Library Wing Case folio Z 4318 .P111
Alexander Kelly. A particular account of the execution of Donald M'Craw. [Scotland: s.n., 1806]
Newberry Library Case Wing folio Z 413 .186 no. 13
Lost Libraries
Over the centuries, numerous libraries have been destroyed not only through pillage and plunder, but through natural disasters as well. These lost libraries are often known only through records of what had been lost.
The Gentleman's Magazine. London: October 1731.
Newberry Library A 51 .36 (1731)
David Casley. A catalogue of the manuscripts of the King's Library: an appendix to the catalogue of the Cottonian library: together with an account of books burnt or damaged by a late fire. London: Printed for the author, and sold by him at the said libraries, 1734.
Newberry Library Z 1145 .1225
Julia Rosa Newberry. [Julia Newberry's diary]. Chicago, 1869-1871.
Newberry Library VAULT Case MS 4A 31
Violence against Books
During periods of religious or political discord, zealous readers have used their books as physical spaces in which to express their opinions.
Index expurgatorius librorum. Antuerpiae [Antwerp]: Ex officina Christophori Plantini prototypographi regij, 1571.
Newberry Library VAULT Wing ZP 5465 .P70152
Desiderius Erasmus. Des. Erasm. Rot. Opervm secvndvs tomvs Adagiorvm chiliades qvatvor cvm sesqvicentvria complectens, ex postrema ipsius autoris recognitione accuratissima, quibus non est quòd qi qicquam imposterum uereare accessurum. Basilae: Ex officina Frobeniana, 1540 [i.e. 1542].
Newberry Library Case 6A 209
Richard Hooker. Of the lawes of ecclesiastical politie. London: Printed by William Stansbye, [1632].
Newberry Library Case folio BV649 .H8 1632
Christoph Gluck. Iphigénie en Tauride. Paris: Au Bureau du Journal de Musique, [1779].
Newberry Library Thomas 66
Falsification
Printers, publishers, and booksellers have often falsified information about their books to protect themselves from prosecution and occasionally, to deceive readers and collectors.
Pierre Hamon. [Alphabet de plvsievrs sortes de lettres].
[Paris: R. Estienne, 1567].
Newberry Library VAULT Wing ZW 539 .H227
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Sonnets. By E.B.B.
Reading: [Not for Publication], 1847.
Newberry Library Case 3A 504
Thomas Scott. Robert, earle of Essex, his ghost, sent from Elizian; to the nobility, gentry and communaltie of England. [London?]: Printed in Paradise, 1624.
Newberry Library Case J 5453 .8042
The Amours and adventures of two English gentlemen in Italy. Worcester, Massachusetts: [By Isaiah Thomas, Junior], 1795.
Newberry Library Case Wing ZP 783 .T3612
Edward Cocker. Cocker's Arithmetick. London: J.Fuller, 1767.
Newberry Library Wing ZP 745 .F955
Related Public Program
THE FOURTH ANNUAL CAXTON CLUB SYMPOSIUM/NEWBERRY LIBRARY SYMPOSIUM ON THE BOOK
Pillage, Punishment, and Provenance: Books as Victims of Crime
Saturday, April 4, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm; reception follows
Free, but reservations are required.