Rare Book Theft Alert

Garrett Scott of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America’s security committee is spreading the word about a theft that took place today:

Colleagues,

Within the past hour or two, Chicago colleague Larry Van de Carr’s 2008 Silver Ford XLT van (with Illinois “environmental” license plates) full of his stock was stolen in Oakland, California.

The inventory in largely rare science fiction (some signed), literature in dust jacket, a smattering of illustrated (Rackham, etc.) some Western Americana. Larry says he often lays descriptions slips into his books or prices near the upper right hand corner of the front free endpaper.

I believe Larry is on his way to the police right now. He is understandably somewhat in shock — if you are in the Bay Area and are approached under suspicious circumstances and offered material like this PLEASE do all you can to delay and call the police if you have reason to suspect these are Larry’s books.

You can reach me on my cell at (734) 730-0643. Larry’s cell is (847) 707-8780. We will hope to have a case number etc. soon.

Please circulate this notice among Bay Area dealers.

We have begun to make some phone calls but appreciate having the word spread. Please excuse any duplication of messages — the original notice has not yet appeared and this is a time-sensitive matter.

Garrett Scott
ABAA Security Committee

8 thoughts on “Rare Book Theft Alert

  1. This is a devastating loss for Larry Van de Carr, these are not your average second hand book store items but are rare collectors editions of SF and other genre. If you are in the area, keep an eye out for anything in the rare collectables that come on the market quickly in the near future.

  2. The ABAA has reported that one person has been arrested when trying to sell a handful of the books at a antiquarian store in Berkeley.

  3. Pingback: Arrest Made in Rare Book Theft | File 770

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