Book curse

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A book curse (also book curse ) refers to inscriptions in books that threaten the theft or the defaulting return of the book with penalties and curses. Already in pre-Christian times the wrath of the gods was conjured down with book curse on thieves of books or scrolls. In the Middle Ages excommunication and anathema were threatened punishments. Medieval copyists usually added the book curse to the colophon . The book curse is seen as a forerunner of copyright law as well as the bookplate .

literature

  • G. A. Crüwell : The curse of the book thieves . In: Archives for cultural history . tape 4 , no. 2 , 1906, p. 97-223 .

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