For a list of missing items, please access wards pittsburgh postgazette article, found below. A former librarian and a bookseller have pleaded guilty in the theft of rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in a yearslong scheme. Authorities friday charged former carnegie library rare books manager gregory priore and bookstore owner john schulman with theft, conspiracy and other counts in. In hopes of aiding the police investigation, the library has released a list of the stolen titles, which include first editions of isaac newtons philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica and. A total of 2,509 carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems. Attached to the message was a copy of a memo on carnegie library of pittsburgh letterhead, dated march 5, 2014, and purportedly written by mr. The shock, the anger and the hurt we feel that individuals who were. Jul 26, 2018 once, sketches of these profound ideas were preserved and made available for viewing by appointment weekdays from 10 a. Exlibrarian, bookseller plead in theft of rare books from. Carnegie library archivist accused of stealing rare books. On the carnegie librarys rare books theft mgerardmingo thoughts july 1, 2018 2 minutes back in april 2017, news broke that someone had stolen over 300 items from the rare books room at the main branch of the carnegie library of pittsburgh, ranging from a 17th century map of new york and new england to a first. Jessica bayless, the library s lead librarian for civic and social information, discusses the census, the upcoming election and how the covid19.
The bible, published in 1615, was traced to the american pilgrim museum in leiden, about 45 miles 70 kilometers from amsterdam in the netherlands, said fbi agent robert jones. Carnegie library of pittsburgh archivist accused of stealing. A 17 th century geneva bible was one of the hundreds of rare books authorities said were stolen from a pittsburgh library as part of a 20yearlong theft scheme, is back home. John schulman, left, and gregory priore pleaded guilty to a library theft scheme that lasted decades. Library archivist, gregory priore, and antiquarian bookseller, john schulman, were arrested friday on charges including theft, criminal conspiracy, and forgery in relation to the theft of over 300 books, plates, and maps from the carnegie library of pittsburgh. Updated january, 2020 this morning in a scheduled court appearance, mr. Vast theft of antiquarian books sends a shudder through a. The person previously responsible for the collection is no longer employed. Join fellow dc residents at forums to share your values, priorities, and ideas with the bowser administration as. The items were taken from a restricted area of the main library in oakland.
Library staff stole millions in rare books over decades. Attorneys for gregory priore and john schulman want prosecutors to detail when each of 321 items were stolen over a 20year period. Exlibrarian, bookseller plead in theft of rare books. Chinese authorities identified a novel coronavirus, also called 2019ncov, which has resulted in more than a thousand confirmed cases in china, including cases outside wuhan city. Jul 18, 2018 the great carnegie rare book heist posted on july 18, 2018 july 18, 2018 by michelle ziegler on april 3, 2017, the allegheny county police department made an unexpected visit to the main carnegie library of pittsburgh. Aug 28, 2018 gregory priore at the carnegie library of pittsburgh in 1999. Jan 14, 2020 carnegie library of pittsburgh from an article by paula reed ward in the pittsburgh postgazette.
Carnegie library theft the new antiquarian the blog of. Also charged in the heist the details of which are described in a 54page criminal complaint that reads like a treatment for a caper film is former. John schulman admitted guilt and accepted full responsibility for the devastating theft of valuable books and other materials from carnegie library of pittsburghs oliver room. The former archivist of the carnegie library of pittsburghs rare book collection told investigators he conspired with the owner of an oakland bookseller since the 1990s to steal and resell items. According to a criminal complaint filed after his arrest on friday, gregory priore has taken razor blades to the pages of rare books for the past 20 years and walked them from the carnegie library of pittsburgh to a shop on north craig street a whimsical, crowded rare book store that smells of antique paper called caliban. Pittsburgh ap a former librarian and a bookseller have pleaded guilty in the theft of rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in a yearslong scheme. The allegheny county district attorney is hoping even more items will be found. Men plead guilty in pittsburgh carnegie library rare books theft. Men accused of stealing rare books from carnegie library going to trial defense seeks more details in carnegie library rare books theft case fbi.
And pages and pages sliced from rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh are among more than 300 items stolen over the last 20 years. It was traced to the american pilgrim museum in leiden. A 1615 geneva bible stolen two decades ago from the carnegie library in pittsburgh in a longrunning theft scheme has been recovered from a dutch museum, the f. Apr 26, 2019 carnegie library of pittsburgh archivist accused of stealing rare books dick eastman april 26, 2019 legal affairs 2 comments a 17 th century geneva bible was one of the hundreds of rare books authorities said were stolen from a pittsburgh library as part of a 20yearlong theft scheme, is back home. The theft of 314 items includes a first edition of isaac newtons philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica from london, dated 1687. A 400yearold bible stolen from pittsburghs carnegie.
Mar 21, 2018 probably slowly, over a long period of time like other infamous book heists. On monday, gregory priore, the former archivist of the carnegie library s rare book room, and john schulman, owner of caliban book shop, pleaded guilty to theft. Statement regarding oliver room theft carnegie library. In 2018, it was reported that nearly 320 rare books, maps, engravings, and other items had been stolen from the carnegie library of pittsburghs main branch in oakland, which houses the systems rare book collection. Statement regarding oliver room theft carnegie library of. Gregory priore, the former archivist of the carnegie library of pittsburghs rare book collection, and john schulman, who coowns caliban book shop, are under investigation for theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief, according to hundreds of pages of documents unsealed june 28 in allegheny county common pleas court.
All clp locations are closed until further notice, but we are working to slowly and safely increase inperson services. Greg priore, formerly the archivist of the library s rare book room, and john schulman, who owns caliban book shop, will be sentenced in allegheny county common pleas court on april 17. Pittsburghs recent library theft was one of the largest in. He told the authorities he sometimes used an xacto knife to remove a part of a book. There is no new information on the numismatic literature held there, but the former archivist and a local bookseller are under investigation in.
Updates in carnegie library theft case the new antiquarian the. A 400yearold bible, one of 321 rare items stolen from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in the 1990s, has been returned after a transoceanic journey. This is a truly regrettable situation for the larger book community, and one in which the association shares the publics dismay that such a theft. A centuriesold bible stolen decades ago from the carnegie library of pittsburgh was returned to the city thursday, recovered from the netherlands as part of.
The swedish library at vitterhetsakademiens in stockholm has informed ilab on the 26th september 2018, that d uring a recent inventory project of the library s rare numismatic book collection, located at the royal coin cabinet national museum of economy, it was discovered that several books are missing, most probably stolen the case has been reported to the police. There is no new information on the numismatic literature held there, but the former archivist and a local bookseller are under investigation in the case. Apr 02, 2018 314 rare books stolen from pittsburghs carnegie library. Rare items stolen from carnegie library the manuscript. Gregory priore at the carnegie library of pittsburgh in 1999. Jul 21, 2018 gregory priore, the former archivist at the carnegie library of pittsburgh, after his arraignment on friday. A librarian and a purveyor of rare books will both stand trial in connection to decades of theft and trafficking of some of the carnegie librarys rarest and oldest works. Carnegie library officials say detectives have suspects in the theft of 314 rare books, maps, and folios. Court documents detail thefts of rare items in pittsburgh. District attorney stephen zappala addresses media during a press conference announcing the return of a bible, published in 1615, that was stolen from the carnegie library at fbi pittsburgh field. Jul 20, 2018 authorities friday charged former carnegie library rare books manager gregory priore and bookstore owner john schulman with theft, conspiracy and other counts in the disappearance of hundreds of. Carnegie library of pittsburgh carnegie library of. Men plead guilty in carnegie library rare books theft.
Two men plead guilty in carnegie library book theft. Exlibrarian, bookseller plead in theft of rare books from carnegie. Jan, 2020 a former librarian and a bookseller have pleaded guilty in the theft of rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in a yearslong scheme. Priore, in which he said that the book was withdrawn from the library as part of a general deaccession during the. A librarian and a purveyor of rare books will both stand trial in connection to decades of theft and trafficking of some of the carnegie library s rarest and oldest works. Allegheny county jail a former librarian and a bookseller accused of stealing and receiving. Jul 23, 2018 in 2017, the allegheny county district attorney began investigating a suspected theft from the carnegie library of pittsburghs special collections room.
Two men pleaded guilty in connection with the theft of rare books and manuscripts from the carnegie library in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Gregory priore, a former archivist at the carnegie library of pittsburgh, was originally charged. Authorities friday charged former carnegie library rare books manager gregory priore and bookstore owner john schulman with theft, conspiracy and other counts in the disappearance of hundreds of items. The bible was stolen from the carnegie library in pittsburgh in the 1990s.
When you steal books, one librarian said, youre robbing the. Pittsburgh ap a 17th century geneva bible, one of the hundreds of rare books authorities said were stolen from a pittsburgh library as part of a 20yearlong theft. Pittsburghs recent library theft was one of the largest. It ranks as one of the largest library thefts in history. A carnegie library is a library built with money donated by scottishamerican businessman and philanthropist andrew carnegie. Men plead guilty in carnegie library rare books theft pittsburgh. A former archivist at the library, and a book dealer, are now charged with theft. Greg priore, 63, of oakland who worked as the sole archivist and manager of the the library s rare. Clps eresources give card holders 247 free access to books, movies, music and more. The carnegie library theft is one of the most expensive book heists in history. Defense lawyers in carnegie library rare book theft case. Exlibrarian and bookseller plead guilty to stealing rare texts. Jan 14, 2020 on monday, gregory priore, the former archivist of the carnegie librarys rare book room, and john schulman, owner of caliban book shop, pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property for.
In 2017, the allegheny county district attorney began investigating a suspected theft from the carnegie library of pittsburghs special collections room. Rare and valuable atlases, maps, and large plate books that show the colorful breadth of western civilization have been stolen from the rare books room of the carnegie library of pittsburgh in oakland. Jan, 2020 a former librarian and a bookseller faced a judge monday morning, pleading guilty to stealing and trafficking rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh. The poetry of jazz, carnegie library book theft, and more. The theft was discovered in spring 2017 when the library initiated an insurance appraisal of their rare book collection. Greg priore, 61, of oakland, who worked as the sole archivist and manager of the librarys rare book room since 1992, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, retail theft, library theft, criminal mischief and forgery. While there have been other infamous rare book thefts, occasionally by industry insiders, the carnegie library case, according to prosecutors, notably involved a collaboration between a librarian. The carnegie library s rare books room has been closed since 2017 because its an active crime scene, but library staff hope to work towards its reopening over. On monday, gregory priore, the former archivist of the carnegie library s rare book room, and john schulman, owner of caliban book shop, pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property for. Charged were former carnegie library archivist gregory priore, 61, and bookstore owner john schulman, 54, with theft, conspiracy, forgery, receiving stolen property and other counts in the. Carnegie library of pittsburgh archivist accused of. Court documents detail theft of rare maps, books, prints from. Greg priore, 63, of oakland who worked as the sole archivist and manager of the the librarys rare.
Abaa statement regarding carnegie library thefts the new. A former librarian and a bookseller have pleaded guilty in the theft of rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in a yearslong. This morning, the abaa leadership learned that greg priore, former carnegie library archivist, and former abaa member john schulman of caliban books, have been charged with theft from the library. Luciana also asserted that caliban lawfully purchased the book directly from the library and later sold it to a third party.
Statement regarding oliver room theft updated january, 2020 this morning in a scheduled court appearance, mr. Apr 26, 2019 pittsburgh ap a 17th century geneva bible, one of the hundreds of rare books authorities said were stolen from a pittsburgh library as part of a 20yearlong theft scheme, is back home. Men plead guilty in thefts of rare books from carnegie library. Theyd have gotten away with it too if it wasnt for those meddling kids. Caliban books owner charged in epic library heist the. Greg priore, formerly the archivist of the librarys rare book room, and john schulman, who owns caliban book shop, will be sentenced continue reading two men plead guilty in carnegie library. Larry dziubek forwarded this pittsburgh postgazette update to the story of the thefts from the rare book collection of the carnegie library of pittsburgh. Jan 14, 2020 greg priore, the 63yearold former archivist and manager of the librarys rare book room, pleaded guilty to theft of unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both firstdegree felonies. Two men charged with stealing more carnegie library.
Carnegie rare book theft hearing scheduled a library archivist and an antique bookseller are charged with stealing millions of dollars worth of rare books, illustrations, maps and photographs from a pittsburgh library over a 20year period. Jul 20, 2018 charged were former carnegie library archivist gregory priore, 61, and bookstore owner john schulman, 54, with theft, conspiracy, forgery, receiving stolen property and other counts in the. Two charged in carnegie library theft rbms security. Susan is focused on making the book trade diverse and equitable. Carnegie library of pittsburgh empowers people to transform their lives through lifelong learning, digital literacy and connections to others. In an effort to assist in the recovery of materials missing as a result of the carnegie library theft, the abaa would like to bring to the publics attention the list of items believed stolen.
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