The 19th Century Shop’s president & founder Stephan Loewentheil is very pleased to participate in an important conference this month, the first of its kind, “The Written Heritage of Mankind in Peril: Theft, Retrieval, Sale and Restitution of Rare Book, Maps and Manuscripts.” The event will be held at the British Library on Friday, June 26, 2015.
This conference will include Stephan Loewentheil of the 19th Century Rare Book & Photograph Shop, Kristian Jensen, Head of Collections and Curation at the British Library in London, Monica Dugot, International Director of Restitution at Christie’s, Ivan Boserup, former Head of Manuscripts and Rare Books, The Royal Library in Copenhagen, and other experts from around the world. The conference will examine all aspects of the theft and illicit trafficking of rare books, maps, and manuscripts looted from libraries and similar repositories.
Event Details
A full-day seminar devoted to a thorough review of this global epidemic
The theft of and illicit trafficking in rare books, maps and manuscripts looted from sovereign and other libraries and similar repositories around the world is a global problem that threatens the preservation of the recorded history of mankind. Remarkably, however, there have been few conferences devoted to the examination of the many issues that pertain to this problem.
Consequently, the Art Law Commission of the UIA has teamed up with the British Library and the Institute of Art and Law in London to invite those who deal with rare books and other priceless written materials, including representatives of dealers, collectors, auction houses, national collections, law enforcement officials, security experts, attorneys and others, to present a full-day comprehensive seminar devoted to a thorough review of the many aspects of this global epidemic.
Upon the conclusion of the seminar, the various participants and attendees will be encouraged to continue the discussion throughout the following year to address the problems raised and begin to develop a comprehensive set of principles that we hope will lead to the development of solutions to prevent widespread theft and trafficking and restore stolen items to their rightful owners for the benefit of everyone. The plan would be to then hold a follow up seminar in New York in 2016 to assess progress in this area and plan future actions.
Organized by the UIA, the British Library and the Institute of Art and Law
Click here for more event information
Event Press
The Guardian – Rare book experts join forces to stop tome raiders
Fine Books & Collections – British Library Conference on Rare Book Trafficking