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These items were still reported missing as of June 17, 2019. 

On Thursday, June 7, 2012, staff at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML) at Saint John's University discovered that a 16th century printed book was missing from the work carrel of one of its catalogers. HMML staff conducted a thorough search of both HMML and Alcuin Library to ensure that the item had not been misplaced.  The staff immediately reviewed a list of rare materials that had been used that week in presentations during a workshop being held at the library. It was discovered that two manuscript items from the Arca Artium collection were also missing, one of which had been used on Wednesday afternoon (June 6).  It is believed that all three volumes were stolen. The manuscripts had already been photographed digitally and can be viewed in Vivarium, the online image service from the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (www.hmml.org/vivarium).  Officers from Life Safety Services at Saint John’s University and from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office began an investigative process that involved interviewing staff and library visitors.  New security precautions have since been put into place. 

The missing books are: 

Item 1:  Two printed works in Latin, together in one volume. (Call number: PA8517.D4 1532). These are bound in blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, with raised bands and two clasps. The volume measures approximately 16-17 cm X 10 cm X 4-5 cm.  The two titles are:

  1. Desiderius Erasmus.  D. Erasmi Roterodami, De copia verborum ac rerum commentarij duo …  (Haganeae: Ex officina Seceriana, 1532).
  2. Adriano Castellesi. Hadrianus TT. S. Chrysogoni, S.R.E. Presby. Card. Batouien. De sermone Latino, & modis Latine loquendi …  (Basileae: in aedibus Thomae Vollffij, 1533).
  • Both titles are on the Latin language, in particular on multiple ways of expressing the same thing in Latin (Erasmus) and on Latin idioms (Castellesi). Physical Description: Binding: off-white blind-stamped pigskin leather over wooden boards, with raised bands and two clasps. At the base of the spine there is an old Dewey Decimal call number from the Abbey Library collection: 879.8 Er2 V. This is in white numbers/letters on a black painted background. The title (probably in abridgement) has been written on the fore-edge of the pages. Size: 16-17 cm (about 6.5 to 7 inches) tall, about 10 cm wide (or about 4 inches) and about 4-5 cm thick (or about 1.5-2 inches. Erasmus edition: 135 leaves (i.e., 270 pages), with one final sheet (likely blank) between the first and second titles. The text also has printed marginal notes by Christopher Hegendorph and is set in italic font. Castellesi edition: 198 numbered leaves (i.e, 396 pages), as well as 36 unnumbered pages, which appears to be an index. A tab separates the Erasmus from the Castellesi titles. On the inside cover there is an ownership label, probably with the earlier name of Saint John’s Abbey, Saint Louis Abbey (“Ex Bibliotheca Abbat. St. Ludov. Nro:” or a variant on this form). The ownership label is usually in the upper left corner of the front cover, but it can also be located elsewhere on the inside of the front cover. Also on that ownership label (and in two other locations) there is an accession number: “2500”—sometimes handwritten, sometimes stamped onto the book. This number may also appear on the leaf following the title page and usually also on library “pocket” on the inside of the back cover. This book came in 1877 as part of a large gift of books from the Abbey of Ottobeuren in Southern Germany. Thus, on the first title page (the Erasmus title) there is a handwritten ownership note: “Monrij Ottoburanj” at the very top of the page.

Item 2:  Manuscript: “Señorio de Galisteo y sus 9 Aldeas. Sus pertenencias.”  (the caption at the top of the cover).  This is written on 30 unnumbered parchment leaves (i.e. 60 pages), of which the final two are blank (that is, ff.).  The size is 29.2 x 22.2 cm. (ca. 11 ½“ by 9“), and about 1 cm (½ “) thick. It is bound in a light brown, soft parchment cover.  Online pictures at: http://cdm.csbsju.edu/u?/SJRareBooks,19967

  • Contents: The “Señorio de Galisto y sus 9 Aldeas” is a legal decision rendered in 1517 in Valladolid (?), Spain, and is written in Spanish.  It is a handwritten document, loosely bound into the form of a book.  There is one large illuminated initial on the reverse of the first leaf (at the actual start of the text). Physical Description: Written on 30 unnumbered parchment leaves (i.e. 60 pages) of which the final two are blank (that is, ff.). Size: 29.2 x 22.2 cm. (ca. 11 ½ inches tall by 9 inches wide).  It is very slender and is probably only about 1 cm (½ inch) thick. Binding: cover is light brown parchment which is soft and has two sets of ribbon ties (some of which are partially missing) that are blue and yellow/green. The text begins on f. 1v (i.e. p.2) with a large decorated/illuminated initial “D” and is written in a very neat and regular round Gothic script.  This initial is the most striking feature on the pages and could attract attention.  The margins are clearly ruled and there are hatch-marks in some of the margins to prevent text being added. Handwritten text has been added (in a different hand) at the end of the regular text and is followed by what appear to be signatures.  There is another text in Spanish on the inside of the front cover, ending with the date 1519.  The opening of the text is as follows: “Don Carlos por la gracia de dios e. Rey de Romanos f. enperdor senper agusto doña juana su madre …” The full text of the manuscript has not been transcribed, nor has the manuscript been fully cataloged.  However, the entire manuscript has been photographed and is available on the Internet in a digital facsimile on the library website: http://cdm.csbsju.edu/u?/SJRareBooks,19967 The item number in our collection is “aab0045,” indicating that this is from the Arca Artium Book collection and is item 45 in that collection overall.  The entire Arca Artium collection (rare books, reference books and art collection) was donated to Saint John’s University in 1995.

Item 3:  Manuscript: Index codicum, authorum, et tractatuum in codicibus contentorum bibliothecae Alcobacensis (Alcobaça, ca. 1775?). This 18th century Latin manuscript contains brief descriptions for the manuscripts owned by the abbey of Alcobaça in Portugal.  It is written on 98 paper leaves (i.e., 196 pages), of which the final six (ff. 93-98) are blank].  It’s size is 33.2 cm. x 21.5 cm. x 2.5 cm (or 13.5” x ca. 8.5“ x 1”).  Online pictures at:  http://cdm.csbsju.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SJRareBooks/id/20139.

  • Contents: 18th century manuscript listing brief descriptions for the manuscripts owned by the abbey of Alcobaça in Portugal.  It is written in Latin.  Possibly written around 1775 (?). Physical description: Written on paper (Dutch paper made by D & C Blauw) in a brown ink in two different hands, one of which is larger and more flowery.  The ink from the other side of the page often shows through, possibly due to the acidity of the ink.  There is no special decoration beyond occasional larger initials. 98 leaves (i.e., 196 pages), of which the final six (ff. 93-98) are blank]. Size: 33.2 cm. x 21.5 cm. x 2.5 cm (or 13.5 inches x ca. 8.5 inches x 1 inch). Binding: It has a brown leather (calfskin) cover on cardboard that is rubbed through in some parts.  The binding is from same general time period as the manuscript. The entire manuscript has been photographed digitally and can be found at: http://cdm.csbsju.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SJRareBooks/id/20139. The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML) purchased this manuscript from Maggs Brothers in November 2009.  

The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library would appreciate any help in recovering these items.  If you have information or questions concerning this incident or these items, please contact: Matthew Z. Heintzelman at mheintzelma@csbsju.edu or 320-363-2795 (front office: 320-363-3514).  

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