Guglielmo Libri Carucci dalla Sommaja, Italian mathematician and academic (d. 1869)

Guglielmo Libri: The Double Life of a Count, Mathematician, and Master Thief of Manuscripts

Guglielmo Brutus Icilius Timoleon Libri Carucci dalla Sommaja (1 January 1803 – 28 September 1869) was an Italian count, a distinguished mathematician, and a respected scholar who paradoxically became infamous for his insatiable love of ancient and precious manuscripts, which tragically led him to systematic theft on an unprecedented scale. Born into an aristocratic family in Florence, Libri initially gained significant recognition for his legitimate academic contributions, particularly in fields such as number theory and the theory of definite integrals. His brilliance was acknowledged across Europe, leading to his election as a foreign member of the Royal Society in 1832, among other prestigious affiliations.

The Betrayal of Trust: Inspector of Libraries and Arch-Thief

Libri’s career took a pivotal turn when, after fleeing political unrest in Italy in the 1830s, he settled in France. Here, his academic reputation opened doors, and in 1841, he was appointed to the highly sensitive and esteemed position of Inspector General of Libraries and Archives for France. This role granted him unparalleled access to the nation’s most invaluable cultural treasures housed within public and institutional libraries across the country. Instead of safeguarding these irreplaceable collections, Libri meticulously exploited his position of trust. He began systematically pilfering the very books and manuscripts he was sworn to protect. His method often involved replacing priceless originals with worthless copies or even blank pages, skillfully altering catalog entries to obscure his illicit activities and evade immediate detection.

The Unmasking and Flight

The scale of Libri’s deception eventually became too vast to conceal. Suspicions began to mount, culminating in a formal investigation initiated by eminent scholars and government officials who noticed an alarming disappearance of rare items from various French collections. When the extent of his grand larceny was on the verge of being fully exposed in 1848, coinciding with political turmoil during the French Revolution of 1848, Libri discreetly fled France. He sought refuge in England, a country that at the time did not have an extradition treaty with France, thus providing him a safe haven from prosecution. He departed with an astonishing haul, estimated to be around 30,000 books and manuscripts, meticulously packed away in 18 large trunks, representing centuries of accumulated knowledge and art, plundered from the public domain.

Sentencing in Absentia and Lingering Mystery

The French judicial system proceeded with a trial in Libri’s absence. In 1850, Guglielmo Libri was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment (travaux forcés) and civic degradation for his monumental thefts – a severe legal and social condemnation. Despite this judgment, he lived out the remainder of his life in England, never returning to France to face his sentence. Upon his death in 1869, some of the stolen works were recovered from his estate and subsequently returned to France and other institutions. However, a significant portion of his immense bibliographical plunder, including many irreplaceable historical documents, literary works, and scientific treatises, remained missing. The legacy of Guglielmo Libri is thus a complex one: a brilliant mind marred by an insatiable, criminal avarice that left an indelible scar on European cultural heritage, with many of his ill-gotten treasures still unaccounted for, occasionally surfacing at auctions, highlighting the ongoing challenge of provenance research in the rare book market.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guglielmo Libri

Who was Guglielmo Libri?

Guglielmo Libri Carucci dalla Sommaja was a 19th-century Italian count and a highly regarded mathematician who gained notoriety for systematically stealing ancient and precious manuscripts and books from French public libraries while serving as their Inspector General.

What was Libri's official role in France?

From 1841, Guglielmo Libri held the position of Inspector General of Libraries and Archives for France. This role gave him unprecedented access and authority over the nation's most valuable literary and historical collections.

How many items did Libri steal?

It is estimated that Guglielmo Libri fled France with approximately 30,000 books and manuscripts, carefully packed into 18 trunks, representing a massive cultural loss for the French national heritage.

What was the outcome of his theft?

Libri fled to England when his thefts were discovered. He was subsequently tried and sentenced in absentia by a French court in 1850 to 10 years in prison. While some of the stolen works were recovered after his death in 1869, a substantial number of items remained missing and are still unlocated to this day.

Why is Guglielmo Libri still relevant today?

Libri's case remains a significant historical example of large-scale cultural patrimony theft. It underscores the importance of rigorous cataloging, security measures in libraries, and provenance research, as many of the items he stole are still being sought by institutions worldwide.