NEWS: 10s of 1000s of Priceless Books Lost in Devastating Fire

As many as 30,000 priceless books were lost in a fire that took place in one of Germany's historic libraries. Another 40,000 books were damaged by smoke and the water that firefighters used to douse the flames. Most of the works lost were from the 16th to 18th century.



The German Minister of Culture later commented, "The literary memory of Germany has suffered severe damage, a piece of the world's cultural heritage has been lost forever."

Fortunately, due to fast action from firefighters and local residents, many priceless works were saved. A bible from 1534, owned by Martin Luther was snatched from the flames along with copies of "Faust" and 8400 different maps.

The damage will probably range in the millions of dollars to repair, but the books that were lost are gone forever.

[edit on 9-5-2004 by Valhall]

You have to wonder why none of these historical libraires are backing up these priceless works on an optical disk????

Originally posted by FredT
You have to wonder why none of these historical libraires are backing up these priceless works on an optical disk????

Errr...

They're priceless because they're the original versions or very special editions of the books. To make a copy of the books words alone would be pointless.

Originally posted by Nerdling
Errr...

They're priceless because they're the original versions or very special editions of the books. To make a copy of the books words alone would be pointless.

Errrrr.....

The quote from the German Minister implied that the "contents as well would be lost forever"

Yes I do realize a bible belonging to martin luther cannot be replaced.....

What is it with Germany and burning books.

Sorry utterly tasteless joke there...

They are all backed up. The news is old. And why is this a TA-Alarm?
Funny world.

Originally posted by rustiswordz
What is it with Germany and burning books.

Sorry utterly tasteless joke there...

That one was cool

...what I just wondered is why they didn't have some fire proof rooms, doors etc - protecting such cultural pieces.

We also had a library fire in the UK a few weeks back. It was the Ramsgate library in kent, Just around the corner from my mothers house.
It's terrible, a lot was destroyed that you just can't ever replace.
My mum is devestated as she is deeply into family history and used the library constantly for research.
Strangely the Ramsgate registry office was also set on fire 24 hours later , but luckily none of the records of deaths birth and marriges were destroyed.

news.bbc.co.uk...

[edit on 4-9-2004 by pantha]

anyone see the original rollerball, with jimmy caan?

-koji K.

Such a loss is terrible indeed. It's one of the reasons why as many texts as possible (as well as other media) should be transferred to other media, so if the originals are lost (Gods forbid), they will still live on in another form.

It is the information that counts, but there is no doubt that there is an artistic value in the literature.

I do make a distinction between the information and the artistic value, however in the long run scheme of things "put not your faith where moth and rust corrupt." While that has a spiritual meaning, the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of many people who wrote those books is another angle on spiritual and thoughful values.

There is indeed a point in scanning the information, so that from the present to the future, people will have an opportunity to read it, and gain from it.

It is a sad world when we think our latest ventures are superior to things such as thousands of years of art. In foresight of events of the past few years, the treasures of historical value ought never be underestimated insofaras being superior in moral proof than any government or leader of current imagination anywhere. That is a regretable fact when people think that "blotting things out," as the Ancient Eqyptians did, is in any way valid.

While the fire was not an apparent deliberate act, antiquities should give us pause on their issues.

[edit on 5-9-2004 by SkipShipman]