Charles Darwin's notebooks reported stolen from Cambridge University

[Stevicus]

Charles Darwin's notebooks reported stolen from Cambridge University

Two Charles Darwin manuscripts have been reported as stolen from Cambridge University library two decades after they were last seen.

Staff believed the precious items had been “mis-shelved” within the vast archives late in 2000 and the matter was not reported to Cambridgeshire police until 20 October this year. The force said it has launched an investigation and notified Interpol.

It is difficult to estimate the value of the notebooks, given their unique nature, but it would probably run into many millions of pounds, the library said.

The two notebooks, including Darwin’s seminal 1837 Tree of Life sketch, were removed from storage to be photographed at the library’s photographic unit, where the work was recorded as completed in November 2000.

They were last seen in 2000, and it was only last month that they actually reported them as stolen. They thought they were mis-shelved, but they haven't been able to find them.

They reported them as stolen, but they have no leads at present.

During a subsequent routine check in January 2001 it was found that the small blue box containing the notebooks had not been returned to its proper place.

Dr Jessica Gardner, university librarian and director of library services since 2017, said: “My predecessors genuinely believed that what had happened was that these had been mis-shelved or misfiled and they took forward extensive searches over the years in that genuine belief.

“Now we have completely reviewed as a new team what happened and come to a conclusion that that’s not a sufficient position or set of actions to take.”

She said that “extensive building work” was taking place at the library at the time that the items were found to be missing.

There have been continuous searches since the notebooks went missing, she said, and it is now thought “likely that theft occurred”. Gardner reported the matter to the police.

An appeal for information has been launched on the advice of external experts, including at the Metropolitan police’s arts and antique specialist crime unit, Dr Gardner said. She said there were no leads.

Cambridge University library has more than 130 miles (210km) of shelving and is home to about 10m books, maps, manuscripts and other objects.

The works were digitized and available online, so the work isn't completely lost. But they're still hoping to get the books back.

The two Darwin notebooks had previously been digitised and their content is available online.

Prof Stephen J Toope, the vice-chancellor of the university, said: “Cambridge University library is one of the world’s great libraries and home to globally important collections, assembled and cared for over six centuries, and encompassing thousands of years of human thought and discovery.

“As a result of this appeal for help, we hope to locate the missing Darwin notebooks and restore them to their rightful place alongside the university library’s other treasures, making them available to scholars and researchers in the centuries to come.”

Anyone who may have information about the missing notebooks is asked to contact Cambridge University library via email at [email protected].

I wonder who would steal something like that. It's not like they can sell it at an auction or anything like that. They'd be caught.

20 years go by, and it's only now they report it as stolen?

And they don't have any leads?

 

[Revoltingest]

His notebooks would be worth a fortune to ephemera collectors.
But there's also the possibility that some deranged fundie stole
them to destroy them. My money is on the money motive.

 

[Stevicus]

His notebooks would be worth a fortune to ephemera collectors.
But there's also the possibility that some deranged fundie stole
them to destroy them. My money is on the money motive.

It would seem so, but where would they sell it?

 

[Revoltingest]

It would seem so, but where would they sell it?

They'd have to market it privately.
Perhaps it was even stolen for a particular client.

 

[Altfish]

They'd have to market it privately.
Perhaps it was even stolen for a particular client.

I think this is the most likely explanation

 

[ChristineM]

His notebooks would be worth a fortune to ephemera collectors.
But there's also the possibility that some deranged fundie stole
them to destroy them. My money is on the money motive.

^^^ this ^^^

 

[Stevicus]

They'd have to market it privately.
Perhaps it was even stolen for a particular client.

Some kind of private collector, then. Someone like Kivas Fajo, perhaps.

 

[ChristineM]

Some kind of private collector, then. Someone like Kivas Fajo, perhaps.

I watched that (repeated repeat of a repeat...) just last week. Coincidences abound...

 

[Shadow Wolf]

They'd have to market it privately.
Perhaps it was even stolen for a particular client.

Whoever may have just taken them for themself.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Charles Darwin's notebooks reported stolen from Cambridge University



They were last seen in 2000, and it was only last month that they actually reported them as stolen. They thought they were mis-shelved, but they haven't been able to find them.

They reported them as stolen, but they have no leads at present.





The works were digitized and available online, so the work isn't completely lost. But they're still hoping to get the books back.





I wonder who would steal something like that. It's not like they can sell it at an auction or anything like that. They'd be caught.

20 years go by, and it's only now they report it as stolen?

And they don't have any leads?

Jeepers. Thats as bad when Einstein's brain was stolen.

 

[McBell]

Charles Darwin's notebooks reported stolen from Cambridge University
They were last seen in 2000, and it was only last month that they actually reported them as stolen. They thought they were mis-shelved, but they haven't been able to find them.
They reported them as stolen, but they have no leads at present.
The works were digitized and available online, so the work isn't completely lost. But they're still hoping to get the books back.
I wonder who would steal something like that. It's not like they can sell it at an auction or anything like that. They'd be caught.
20 years go by, and it's only now they report it as stolen?
And they don't have any leads?

OMG!
Now there is no Darwinism!
What are the Evolutionists™ gonna do now!
Even more importantly, what are the Creationists gonna strawman now!