Two manuscripts of Charles Darwin which were registered as stolen from the Cambridge University Library were returned anonymously in pink gift bag, with typewritten note on an envelope with a Happy Easter wish to the librarian.
items we found to be missing in 2001, but at the time staff believed they might not have been placed on the shelf.
They carried out extensive searches in a library containing about 10 million books, maps, manuscripts and other items – but in October 2020 they were registered as stolen to the Cambridgeshire Police.
Police force launched an investigation and notified Interpol, with university attracting the attention of the whole world for information.
Nearly year And half then notebooks – one of which contains Darwin’s 1837 founding tree. of Life essay – returned anonymously.
They were left in pink gift bag on in floor of but public area of library outside librarian office, on fourth floor of 17 storey building, on 9th of March. area not protected by video surveillance.
They say that the manuscripts in good condition and with no obvious signs of significant handling or damage suffered in years since their disappearance.
Two notebooks were rolled together with cling film inside their archive box. Printed on a plain brown envelope was the message “Librarian/Happy Easter/X”.
The police investigation into the disappearance of the notebooks and their subsequent return is ongoing.
Dr. Jessica Gardner, who became director of library services in 2017 and who reported notepads as stolen to the police, described her joy at their return as “immeasurable”.
“My feeling of the relief at the safe return of the notebooks is profound and almost impossible to adequately express,” she said. “I, together with so many others around the world were heartbroken to know of their loss.
“The only purpose of our public the appeal was for the safe return of the manuscripts to our custody, and I am very pleased with this successful outcome. in so relatively short space of time.
“Notepads can now get back their rightful place along with the rest of Darwin archive in Cambridge, in the heart of of national cultural and scientific heritage, along with archives of Sir Isaac Newton and Professor Stephen Hawking.
While there is no video surveillance of in area where the manuscripts were returned, Gardner said the ins and outs of building have been covered, as have targeted areas such as repositories and specialized reading rooms.
She said available the footage was handed over to the police, adding: “It’s really a mystery. we are not know how and we don’t know who”.
notebooks were removed from the photography storage in the photo section of the library, where work was registered as completed in November 2000 During a follow-up scheduled inspection made in January 2001, that was found what small blue box containing notebooks were not returned to their place place.
Gardner said the library building since then “has changed a lot” with card-and-pin access protected areas, on-site security teams high-security safes and additional video surveillance systems.
She added would be “further thorough reviews of all our security protocols ahead – make sure we minimize any future risk how human possible”.
Professor Stephen J. Toop, Vice Chancellor of university of Cambridge, said he was “incredibly pleased to hear of safe return of notepads to their rightful home”.
“Such objects are crucial for Our understanding of Not only history of science but history of humanity,” he said.
Laptops must go on public display since July with of darwin library in Conversational Exhibition.
A spokesman for the Cambridgeshire Police said: “Our investigation remains open and we follow up some lines of investigation. We also reopen our appeal for anyone with information on business contact us”.
