UPDATE (Feb 9, 2022): An arrest has been made in connection with the theft of nearly 5,000 missing items from FSU Libraries' Robert M. Ervin Jr. Collection. The investigation remains open and ongoing, and FSU Libraries are still awaiting details on the items that have been recovered. As they learn more and gather information about what was recovered and what remains missing, they will continue to update the spreadsheet below. This spreadsheet and notice detail materials stolen from Florida State University. 4,996 items from the Robert M. Ervin Jr. Collection were stolen from FSU Special Collections & Archives between March 17th, 2020 and February 10th, 2021. The Robert M. Ervin Jr. Collection consists of comic books, serials, and containing and related to superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Publications include those by Marvel Comics, DC Comics, underground comix publishers, foreign-language titles, pulp magazines, and Big Little Books. Over 1200 serial titles are represented, predominantly from the 1950s through the 1970s. Other works include monographs and serials related to comic book collecting, history, and criticism as well as posters and prints featuring comic book characters and art. Please contact Katie McCormick if you have info concerning the missing items: Katie McCormick Associate Dean of Libraries for Special Collections & Archives (she/her/hers) Florida State University Libraries 116 Honors Way, Rm 110D Tallahassee, FL 32306-2047 Tel: (850) 644-6... [more UPDATE: Items Stolen from Florida State University’s Robert M. Ervin Jr. Collection]

Update: this item has been recovered as of 1/22/21. Report of an alleged theft over the holidays, possibly linked to previously fraudulent activity from the Essex area of the UK. The item is a first British edition of Finnegans Wake in a restored dust-jacket. There is a name in pencil on the front free endpaper. The book was ordered and paid for with a credit card over the phone and the buyer claimed the book was a gift. The item was shipped to Dagenham, UK and delivered on Dec 8th. After delivery, the credit card owner disputed the charge via PayPal. We advise all members to be vigilant and please exercise caution if you receive orders associated with or from this area. If offered this item, please contact: Rachel Eley John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller Telephone: (415) 986-5826 rachel@johnwindle.com [more Update/Recovered: Possible Fraudulent Activity: Essex, UK Area, Finnegans Wake]

12/14/20: Update, this parcel has been delivered and the items are no longer missing. *** A parcel containing the following items has gone missing from the porch of a customer in Kentfield, CA: 1. Bayard Taylor. Eldorado (1850). 2 volumes. First edition, slipcase 2. Alfred Robinson. Life in California (1846). First edition. 3. Zachary Taylor. California and New Mexico (1850). Ex-Newberry Lib. 4. Anthony Bledsoe. Indian Wars (1883). First edition. 5. Robert Louis Stevenson. Silverado Squatters (1883). First edition, slipcase. 6. Theodore Hittell. History of California (1885). 2 volumes. First edition. 7. Winfield Davis. History of the Political Conventions (1893). First edition. If offered, please contact Justin McShea of Star of the Sea Books: P.O. Box 1307 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 www.staroftheseabooks.com justin@staroftheseabooks.com Tel. 917-690-2550 [more Update: Missing in Transit to Kentfield, CA]

Update: this item has been located and is no longer missing. The following book was apparently “delivered to” and “signed for” by Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts, but the firm never received it. Please contact Jill Mann if you know the whereabouts of this item: Jill Mann, Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts (503) 472-0476 or jill@pirages.com Lot #87 at the Christie's Paris sale on 5/27 REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph (1759-1840). Les Roses peintes par P. J. Redouté… décrites par C. A. Thorry. Paris : C. L. F. Panckoucke, 1824 . Bel exemplaire en demi-maroquin rouge de l'époque, bien complet de toutes ses planches et des feuillets de texte. On a relié in fine les quatre pages de prospectus pour cette édition : « L'éclat, la vérité, l'élégance, le plus grand luxe typographique, ont procuré aux Roses de M. Redouté une vogue européenne. On a reconnu, dans les portraits qu'il a donnés de toutes les variétés de la rose, la nature même… ». Cette édition in-8, la première de ce format, fut publiée en 40 livraisons de 4 planches chacune. Nissen BBI, 1599. Fort volume in-8 (246 x 162 mm). Faux-titre, titre et 160 planches hors-texte, toutes coloriées à la main. Demi-maroquin rouge à coins de l'époque, dos à nerfs orné (petits frottements d'usage aux coiffes et aux coins ; rares rousseurs). [more Located: REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph (1759-1840). Les Roses peintes par P. J. Redouté… décrites par C. A.]

The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) condemns the actions of the two individuals sentenced today in the Carnegie Library thefts. John Schulman ceased to be a member of the ABAA within days of his indictment. As antiquarian booksellers, we are the custodians and caretakers of cultural materials. This incident is not only a violation of that responsibility and our rigorous Code of Ethics, it is also a tremendous loss to scholarship in the Pittsburgh community and beyond. When we were alerted to the thefts, the ABAA published lists of the stolen and missing material. Our members continue to assist the authorities and collectors around the globe in identification and recovery activities. We co-sponsored an international seminar on provenance at the Grolier Club in 2019 and as a result, bolstered our communications efforts and stolen and missing books blog. We are continuing to work with our colleagues and law enforcement agencies throughout the world and our counterparts in special collections libraries to develop a more robust international stolen books database and increase awareness on the importance of security and provenance. [more ABAA Statement re Carnegie Library Thefts and Sentencing]

Here's the description of a book that was stolen from a local FedEx in NYC last week on or after 6/1/20. If anyone is offered the below, please contact Josh Mann of B&B at 646-652-6766. Hemingway, Ernest. Green Hills of Africa. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1935. Decorated by Edward Shenton. First edition, first printing. Publisher's green cloth, stamped to front board in gilt with author's facsimile signature, stamped in black and gilt to spine; in the original green, black, and white dust jacket with a photograph of the author to rear panel. A near fine copy with some fading to extremities, particularly the spine, toning to page edges, small bookseller's sticker to rear pastedown; in a very good dust jacket with toning to spine and wear to extremities, some shallow chipping to spine head, rubbing to folds, a few scattered scratches. Overall, a nice copy that presents well. Hanneman A13a. [more Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa]

These items were reported stolen May 14, 2020 from Columbus OH. West Point Atlas of American War. 2nd addition signed by President Esinhower with the addition of personal words from him to me it reads, " to Rex Brown with best wishes D. W. Esenhower. 1965." "The History of the Scottish Clans and Family's" one printing 1905. Sent to a listed names of 500 odd persons. Please contact Rex.w.brown47@gmail.com with any information. [more Stolen Columbus OH: West Point Atlas of American War and History of the Scottish Clans and Families]

UPDATE: This item was recovered 5/18/20. The following item was reported missing and last seen at the ABAA Fair in Pasadena this past February: Nightingale, Florence. Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not. London: Harrison, . First edition, early issue. 79pp. Octavo in flexible black textured cloth with gilt title on front wrap. Rebacked, with original wraps. Light wear to extremities; hinges reinforced, interior unmarked. With publisher's advertisements for the year 1860 on endpapers. With ads for Burke's Peerage and the Foreign Office List, both for 1860 (with the '8' in the Peerage ad's '1860' in slightly larger type); with 'The right of Translation is reserved' appearing in brackets at the foot of the title page; and with spelling errors uncorrected on pages 40 and 44. Identification number is 56736. If you have any information on this item, please contact Ken Sanders Rare Books at ecannon@kensandersbooks.com or (801) 521-3819. [more Missing: Early Issue of “Notes on Nursing” by Florence Nightingale]

UPDATED 2/2020: This item was recovered. Seemingly fell off the tracking map in San Fransisco, the item is #341 of 512 of Wasson's Mushrooms, Russia, and History, Pantheon, 1957; two large volumes in a slipcase, value is US$2000. The book was in transit from Wisconsin to Hawaii. If offered, please contact: Peter Dast Bookworks 11236 South County Road K Beloit, WI 53511 [more Missing in Transit: Wasson’s Mushrooms, Russia, and History]

Passages Bookshop (in Portland, Oregon) was broken into last night). A first rough estimate is that 100-150 books were stolen from smashed display cases. Most of the books are rare and signed editions of poetry, literature, photography, and modern art. I have only begun to identify the missing titles; a first shortlist follows, and we'll send an update with additional details when possible. In case anyone suspects that they are offered material from this incident, the police contact is: Officer Anthony Hill, Portland Bureau of Police 503-545-3436 Case number 20-1394 My phone numbers are: Cell: 503-233-4562 Shop: 503-388-7665 Thank you very much, David Abel Books stolen from Passages Bookshop, 1/2/20. List revised 2/12/20. Complete and uptodate lists also at: www.passagesbookshop.com/stolen-books-1-2-20 www.passagesbookshop.com/stolen-book-list-1-2-20-breakin Additional stolen item added 02/12/2020 The following books, prints, and broadsides were contained in a TRAN brand black leatherette portfolio case, dimensions approximately 18 x 24 x 4 inches. Cohick, Aaron (editor). REAEDR #1: WAR. New Lights, 2017. Narrow folio, saddle-stapled into printed wrappers. Risograph journal, printed in color throughout. Maurer, Paul. Campo Santo. Passages, 1995. Hand-colored letterpress print with collage, edition of 75. Moore, Michael. Two digital prints of drawings (with handwritten text) from Auto-Biographies. Wall Springs, 2013. Pindar, trans. Ted Enslin. Gabriel Liston, illus. The Gods c... [more Large Theft from Passages in Portland, OR (UPDATE Feb 12th, 2020)]