Die Verantwortlichen der Bishop Phillpott Library im englischen Truro entschieden 2006, den kostbaren Altbestand ihrer Bibliothek aufgrund mangelnder Nutzung für nur 36.000 britische Pfund abzugeben. Der Antiquar konnte mit Auktionen und Verkäufen über 500.000 Pfund erzielen. Die Empörung ist gross, dass sich die Kirchenbibliothek so übers Ohr hauen liess.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2419379.ece
Der Artikel thematisiert allerdings nur den finanziellen Verlust, ebenso wie die detaillierte Recherche zur Geschichte der glanzvollen Buchsammlung und ihres peinlichen Endes unter
http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/bookdealer.pdf
Aus ihr wird klar, dass eine angemessene und vollständige Katalogisierung der Bestände nicht existiert.
Der Artikel im "Bookdealer" ist mit Beispielen besonders herausragender Stücke illustriert, darunter Fragmente einer in Deutschland geschriebenen Handschrift von Hildebert von Le Mans' Sermones de Sanctis (ca. 1180), verkauft bei Sotheby's für 7200 Pfund.
S. 27 Anm. 4 wird völlig unkritisch das "richtige" Verscherbeln einer Frauenklosterbibliothek in Staffordshire angesprochen: "Everyone happy!" Keinesfalls! Denn bei historischen Bibliotheken geht es nicht darum, dass Händler und Eigentümer gut miteinander auskommen, sondern um historische Quellen, an deren Erhalt (oder wenigstens gründlicher Dokumentation) ein öffentliches Interesse besteht.
In den Leserbriefen distanziert sich der Präsident des Verbands der Antiquare von dem Vorgehen seines Nicht-Mitglieds.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/debate/letters/article2426157.ece
Erfreulicherweise macht THE REV CANON B. J. FINDLAY, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk auf die Problematik solchen kirchlichen Buchbesitzes aufmerksam, weshalb sein Statement ganz zitiert sei:
"Sir, Fifty years ago, the Council for the Care of Churches was commissioned to inquire into the state of parochial libraries. Many were collections of antiquarian theological works, often in poor condition; more had been dispersed than had survived. A report was published in 1959, containing a gazetteer and brief description of the survivors; since then, more detailed catalogues have appeared. As a result of the inquiry, very few such libraries have since been disposed of. A parish wishing to be rid of its “old books that nobody reads” is generally required to deposit them in an institutional library for conservation as a separate collection.
Cathedrals and other Church institutions such as theological colleges, convents and teachers colleges, often possess books of far greater interest or value. Cathedral libraries are generally treasured, well maintained, and expertly catalogued; they are supervised and administered by people who know about books. But the disastrous dispersal of the Bishop Phillpotts Library (report, Sept 10) suggests that a survey of the contents and conditions of Church institutional libraries, and the policies of those responsible for them, is long overdue. Trustees may have the right to sell their property, but an enforceable code of practice is needed, and custodians of libraries required to seek expert and disinterested advice.
We rightly make it difficult for churches to sell off antique plate, furniture and works of art. If the Church of England takes its patrimony seriously, it should extend similar protection to books and manuscripts."
Ein trauriges Detail kam in EXLIBRIS zutage (Scott Brown, Editor am 12.9.):
"An interesting point not mentioned in the Times article is that the
Macklin Bible - the massive extra-illustrated Bible that was the first
item sold - went to a dealer who showed up at the auction house, razor blade in hand, and cut out the 300 best drawings and prints, leaving the rest. The auction house, Dominic Winter, subsequently placed the remainder with an American university library. Anyone know where it ended up?"
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2419379.ece
Der Artikel thematisiert allerdings nur den finanziellen Verlust, ebenso wie die detaillierte Recherche zur Geschichte der glanzvollen Buchsammlung und ihres peinlichen Endes unter
http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/bookdealer.pdf
Aus ihr wird klar, dass eine angemessene und vollständige Katalogisierung der Bestände nicht existiert.
Der Artikel im "Bookdealer" ist mit Beispielen besonders herausragender Stücke illustriert, darunter Fragmente einer in Deutschland geschriebenen Handschrift von Hildebert von Le Mans' Sermones de Sanctis (ca. 1180), verkauft bei Sotheby's für 7200 Pfund.
S. 27 Anm. 4 wird völlig unkritisch das "richtige" Verscherbeln einer Frauenklosterbibliothek in Staffordshire angesprochen: "Everyone happy!" Keinesfalls! Denn bei historischen Bibliotheken geht es nicht darum, dass Händler und Eigentümer gut miteinander auskommen, sondern um historische Quellen, an deren Erhalt (oder wenigstens gründlicher Dokumentation) ein öffentliches Interesse besteht.
In den Leserbriefen distanziert sich der Präsident des Verbands der Antiquare von dem Vorgehen seines Nicht-Mitglieds.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/debate/letters/article2426157.ece
Erfreulicherweise macht THE REV CANON B. J. FINDLAY, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk auf die Problematik solchen kirchlichen Buchbesitzes aufmerksam, weshalb sein Statement ganz zitiert sei:
"Sir, Fifty years ago, the Council for the Care of Churches was commissioned to inquire into the state of parochial libraries. Many were collections of antiquarian theological works, often in poor condition; more had been dispersed than had survived. A report was published in 1959, containing a gazetteer and brief description of the survivors; since then, more detailed catalogues have appeared. As a result of the inquiry, very few such libraries have since been disposed of. A parish wishing to be rid of its “old books that nobody reads” is generally required to deposit them in an institutional library for conservation as a separate collection.
Cathedrals and other Church institutions such as theological colleges, convents and teachers colleges, often possess books of far greater interest or value. Cathedral libraries are generally treasured, well maintained, and expertly catalogued; they are supervised and administered by people who know about books. But the disastrous dispersal of the Bishop Phillpotts Library (report, Sept 10) suggests that a survey of the contents and conditions of Church institutional libraries, and the policies of those responsible for them, is long overdue. Trustees may have the right to sell their property, but an enforceable code of practice is needed, and custodians of libraries required to seek expert and disinterested advice.
We rightly make it difficult for churches to sell off antique plate, furniture and works of art. If the Church of England takes its patrimony seriously, it should extend similar protection to books and manuscripts."
Ein trauriges Detail kam in EXLIBRIS zutage (Scott Brown, Editor am 12.9.):
"An interesting point not mentioned in the Times article is that the
Macklin Bible - the massive extra-illustrated Bible that was the first
item sold - went to a dealer who showed up at the auction house, razor blade in hand, and cut out the 300 best drawings and prints, leaving the rest. The auction house, Dominic Winter, subsequently placed the remainder with an American university library. Anyone know where it ended up?"
