[MSN] After nine years of lies, deception and intrigue, a rare book was returned to the Menno Simons Historical Library this fall.

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Long lost book returns
By Rachel Penman
Contributing Writer

Photo by Ellie Spaulding
http://weathervane.emu.edu/index/52/5/news/erasmus

Lois Bowman browses through the recently returned text.
After nine years of lies, deception and intrigue, a rare book was returned to the Menno Simons Historical Library this fall. 

On May 9, 1996, Lois Bowman, head library of the historical library, loaned a 1547 book to a Holmes County bookbinder for restoration. There was no reason to suspect the bookbinder, who Bowman requested not be named, because he had previously done work for the library and they respected his work. But as the years passed, the library staff began to think the New Testament was gone forever. 

This Erasmus New Testament is one of only five in the United States and is partially rare because the text is in three languages: Latin, Greek, and Latin Vulgate used by the Catholic Church. It is a fourth edition but was still published before Erasmus, a theologian/scholar during the Reformation, died in 1536. 

The historical library bought the New Testament in 1975 for $882 at auction from the Mennonite Library in Amsterdam. When asked why this book was important to EMU's historical library, Bowman explained, "For one thing, it came from a Mennonite library and the Bible is basic to the Reformation movement and this shows the interest in accurate translations. Erasmus was very respected by the Reformers." 

Bowman first began to worry in 1998 and wrote a letter to the bookbinder inquiring about the progress of the restoration. Later that year Bowman received a letter from him claiming the book was completed "beautifully" and sent an invoice for $790. EMU paid promptly with the understanding that the book would be sent right away. Another year passed and Dr. Irvin B. Horst, Scholar-in-Residence and former EMU church history professor, became very worried about the missing book and wrote to the bookbinder demanding its immediate return. 

By 2000 the bookbinder had started to hop around the country traveling from place to place, all the while still claiming he would return the book right away. In January of 2000 Bowman spoke to him on the phone from Arlington, Va., when he claimed he would deliver the book in person in February. He never showed up. 

In June of 2000 the binder again called claiming to be in Johns Hopkins Hospital being treated for stomach cancer, but still insisting that he planned to return the New Testament right away. 

"He was so convincing, I thought of him as a friend," said Bowman. "He always acted very pious and plain, he even was said to have been Amish for awhile, very convincing." 

In August of 2000 Boyd Reese, director of libraries at EMU, wrote a letter to the binder requesting the book, which he had ensured for $10 thousand, even volunteering to pay shipping costs. The registered letters were sent back unclaimed. In 2001 Bowman received information that the bookbinder was now working in Maryland and had declared bankruptcy in Holmes County. But when this was dismissed and his property seized, the New Testament was not found. 

For three years after this, nothing was heard of the binder or the Erasmus New Testament. Then in September of 2004 Bowman received a call from James Lowry of Hagerstown, Md., informing her that the bookbinder was currently in jail in California on four counts of trying to sell books that weren't his. 

"When I heard this my heart just fell," said Bowman. "At the time I actually thought he was reluctant to give it up because he loved these books so much." 

The bookbinder had apparently been caught trying to leave the country for Korea (he is thought to have a Korean wife) when he was caught. Bowman was put in contact with Detective John Merill of the Philadelphia Central Police who was handling the case, but no one had any word on the Erasmus New Testament. 

Later that same month Owen Gingerich, a visiting professor from Harvard University, learned of the story of the Erasmus New Testament and offered though his connections to list the book on a website for lost and stolen books. The response was astounding with many people posting about being duped by the same bookbinder in some way. Then a post was made by a man named Gibson Reynolds, stating simply that Bowman should e-mail him; he might know something about the New Testament.

After an e-mail from Bowman, Reynolds called her the next day. The bookbinder had been his neighbor and offered to introduce him to the world of rare books. The binder had sold him the New Testament claiming it was an investment. Reynolds paid his neighbor $8,500 and since the book had never been bound as the binder claimed, that cost Reynolds another $475. 

On August 9, 2005, the bookbinder was sentenced to nine months served as well as 11 years probation and restitution to all parties. At that time Reynolds had received one check for $1 thousand. 

Bowman was pleased with the sentence. "Prison doesn't do him or anyone else [involved] any good. This makes him a productive member of society and he is a skilled book binder. Some may consider the sentence lenient, but I was very pleased," she said. 

The New Testament arrived at EMU through registered mail insured for $7 thousand on Aug. 23 much to Bowman's delight. EMU paid Reynolds for the binding he had done as well as for shipping. 

The 1527 Erasmus New Testament is now on display in the historical library on the second floor of the main library.

http://weathervane.emu.edu/