Rare 16th century book stolen at Frankfurt fair

FRANKFURT — Thieves stole a rare 16th-century Portuguese book estimated to be worth 18,500 euros ($25,500) at the world's biggest book fair here last month, police said Wednesday.

Written in 1542 by Portuguese humanist philosopher Damiao de Gois, a friend and student of Erasmus, the 30-page book is entitled "Hispania damiani a goes equitis lusitani".

Read the rest here.

“For him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted. Let him languish in pain crying aloud for mercy, and let there be no surcease to his agony till he sing in dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw his entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him forever.”

-From a sign posted in the library of the Benedictine Convent of San Pere near Barcelona.