A rare copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was reportedly stolen on Monday from its temporary home, the “Art You Grew Up With Exhibition” in Oxfordshire, England.
Reportedly the gallery assistant was distracted while a man stole the edition, worth over $9,500, while a woman was his lookout. It is not believed the employee was intentionally distracted instead “the offenders” saw an opportune moment and “took advantage of the gallery assistant being occupied by a group of people.”
The theft occurs on the heels of the latest and last installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows also premiering Monday.
Adrian Greenwood, owner of the copy, is reportedly “devastated” believing “the rare edition—one of just 400[…]—has already surfaced on the London black (book) market.” Greenwood owns four other rare copies of the Harry Potter series.
However, others believe the thieves will have a hard time selling it since the book has been properly documented and therefore identifiable.
Not many book thieves may realize the efforts involved in recovering lost literature. Websites like http://www.stolen-book.org/ keeps an extensive database of books of value stolen from its owners. It already has listed the missing copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as well as several other stolen books in the Harry Potter series missing since January 2004.
Recently successfully nabbed book thief Raymond Scott—nicknamed the “Folio Thief”—was sentenced to eight years for stealing a “first folio edition of William Shakespeare’s works from Durham University in 1998”. Scott was said to have “mutilated” the goat binding and to have “cut the cords on the spine” rendering him a sociopath among the literary community.
However, the most celebrated catch has been the notorious “Tome raider”—William Jacques—serial book thief extraordinaire sentenced to three-and-a-half years for stealing an estimated $63,000 worth of rare books.
“Cambridge-educated with an understanding of antiquarian books, Jacques stealing distinguished works of literature by plundering the collection at his old university library. Between October 1996 and May 1999, he stole about 500 extremely rare books and pamphlets from Cambridge, the British Library and London Library…”
It is not clear whether the nabbers of the famous boy wizard novel will be given kitschy nicknames, but their short-term notoriety on the literary community's "most wanted" list will lead to their capture soon enough.
Reportedly the gallery assistant was distracted while a man stole the edition, worth over $9,500, while a woman was his lookout. It is not believed the employee was intentionally distracted instead “the offenders” saw an opportune moment and “took advantage of the gallery assistant being occupied by a group of people.”
The theft occurs on the heels of the latest and last installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows also premiering Monday.
Adrian Greenwood, owner of the copy, is reportedly “devastated” believing “the rare edition—one of just 400[…]—has already surfaced on the London black (book) market.” Greenwood owns four other rare copies of the Harry Potter series.
However, others believe the thieves will have a hard time selling it since the book has been properly documented and therefore identifiable.
Not many book thieves may realize the efforts involved in recovering lost literature. Websites like http://www.stolen-book.org/ keeps an extensive database of books of value stolen from its owners. It already has listed the missing copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as well as several other stolen books in the Harry Potter series missing since January 2004.
Recently successfully nabbed book thief Raymond Scott—nicknamed the “Folio Thief”—was sentenced to eight years for stealing a “first folio edition of William Shakespeare’s works from Durham University in 1998”. Scott was said to have “mutilated” the goat binding and to have “cut the cords on the spine” rendering him a sociopath among the literary community.
However, the most celebrated catch has been the notorious “Tome raider”—William Jacques—serial book thief extraordinaire sentenced to three-and-a-half years for stealing an estimated $63,000 worth of rare books.
“Cambridge-educated with an understanding of antiquarian books, Jacques stealing distinguished works of literature by plundering the collection at his old university library. Between October 1996 and May 1999, he stole about 500 extremely rare books and pamphlets from Cambridge, the British Library and London Library…”
It is not clear whether the nabbers of the famous boy wizard novel will be given kitschy nicknames, but their short-term notoriety on the literary community's "most wanted" list will lead to their capture soon enough.
This is great. Really made me laugh. and i was interested all the way through. i like the way you open with something current and then step back to give us a history of the phenomenon. one thing:your first link is dead. Otherwise they're good
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