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Book curse - Wikipedia
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<li id="toc-Ancient_curses" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_curses"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Ancient curses</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_curses-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Medieval_curses" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Medieval_curses"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Medieval curses</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Medieval_curses-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Edwardian_curses" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Edwardian_curses"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>Edwardian curses</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Edwardian_curses-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Document_curse" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Document_curse"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Document curse</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Document_curse-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" 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class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Method of discouraging the theft of manuscripts</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="A bookplate of Malcolm Ferguson (1920–2011)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg/220px-Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="336" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg/330px-Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Malcolm_M._Ferguson_Bookplate.jpg 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="610" /></a><figcaption>A bookplate of Malcolm Ferguson (1920–2011), example of a modern book curse</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>book curse</b> was a widely employed method of discouraging the theft of <a href="/wiki/Manuscript" title="Manuscript">manuscripts</a> during the <a href="/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages">medieval</a> period in <a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a>. The use of book curses dates back much further, to pre-Christian times, when the wrath of gods was invoked to protect books and scrolls. </p><p>Usually invoking threat of excommunication, or <a href="/wiki/Anathema" title="Anathema">anathema</a>, the more creative and dramatic detail the better. Generally located in the first or last page of a volume as part of the <a href="/wiki/Colophon_(publishing)" title="Colophon (publishing)">colophon</a>, these curses were often considered the only defense in protection of highly coveted books and manuscripts. This was notably a time in which people believed in curses, which was critical to its effect, thus believing that, if a person stole or ripped out a page, they were destined to die an agonizing death.<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1983-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With the introduction of the printing press, these curses instead became "bookplates [which] enabled users to declare ownership through a combination of visual, verbal, and textual resources. For the first time, warning, threatening, and cursing had become multimodal."<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A book curse might read, for example, "If anyone take away this book, let him die the death; let him be fried in a pan; let the falling sickness and fever seize him; let him be broken on the wheel, and hanged. Amen."<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1983-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_curses">Ancient curses</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Ancient curses"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The earliest known book curse can be traced to <a href="/wiki/Ashurbanipal" title="Ashurbanipal">Ashurbanipal</a>, <a href="/wiki/King_of_Assyria" class="mw-redirect" title="King of Assyria">King of Assyria</a> from 668 to 627 BC, who had the following curse written on many or all of the tablets collected at the library at <a href="/wiki/Ninevah" class="mw-redirect" title="Ninevah">Ninevah</a>, considered to be the earliest example of a systematically collected library:<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote><p>I have transcribed upon tablets the noble products of the work of the scribe which none of the kings who have gone before me had learned, together with the wisdom of <a href="/wiki/Nabu" title="Nabu">Nabu</a> insofar as it existeth [in writing]. I have arranged them in classes, I have revised them and I have placed them in my palace, that I, even I, the ruler who knoweth the light of <a href="/wiki/Ashur_(god)" title="Ashur (god)">Ashur</a>, the king of the gods, may read them. Whosoever shall carry off this tablet, or shall inscribe his name on it, side by side with mine own, may Ashur and <a href="/wiki/Bel_(mythology)" title="Bel (mythology)">Belit</a> overthrow him in wrath and anger, and may they destroy his name and posterity in the land.</p></blockquote> <p>Another curse from Ninevah states: "Whoever removes [the tablet], writes his name in the place of my name, may Ashur and <a href="/wiki/Ninlil" title="Ninlil">Ninlil</a>, angered and grim, cast him down, erase his name, his seed, in the land."<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Other book curses were more discreet: "He who fears <a href="/wiki/Anu" title="Anu">Anu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Enlil" title="Enlil">Enlil</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Enki" title="Enki">Ea</a> will return it to the owner's house the same day", and "He who fears Anu and <a href="/wiki/Antu_(goddess)" title="Antu (goddess)">Antu</a> will take care of it and respect it".<sup id="cite_ref-Casson,_2001,_p.13_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Casson,_2001,_p.13-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Because these tablets were made of clay, and thus easily vandalized, there were specific curses to protect against such acts, such as: "In the name of Nabu and Marduk, do not rub out the text!"<sup id="cite_ref-Casson,_2001,_p.13_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Casson,_2001,_p.13-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Nabu" title="Nabu">Nabu</a> was the Babylonian god of writing and wisdom, son of <a href="/wiki/Marduk" title="Marduk">Marduk</a> and <a href="/wiki/Sarpanit" title="Sarpanit">Sarpanitu</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A more detailed curse to prevent vandalism went as follows: </p> <blockquote><p>He who breaks this tablet or puts it in water or rubs it until you cannot recognize it [and] cannot make it to be understood, may Ashur, <a href="/wiki/Sin_(mythology)" title="Sin (mythology)">Sin</a>, <a href="/wiki/Utu" class="mw-redirect" title="Utu">Shamash</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hadad" title="Hadad">Adad</a> and <a href="/wiki/Inanna" title="Inanna">Ishtar</a>, Bel, <a href="/wiki/Nergal" title="Nergal">Nergal</a>, Ishtar of Nineveh, <a href="/wiki/Ishtar_of_Arbela" title="Ishtar of Arbela">Ishtar of Arbela</a>, Ishtar of Bit Kidmurri, the gods of heaven and earth and the gods of <a href="/wiki/Assyria" title="Assyria">Assyria</a>, may all these curse him with a curse that cannot be relieved, terrible and merciless, as long as he lives, may they let his name, his seed, be carried off from the land, may they put his flesh in a dog's mouth.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>Book curses date back to the creation of libraries themselves. Ancient librarians have historically regarded book thieves on par with murderers and blasphemers. Ancient librarians invoked the wrath of the gods upon book thieves and vandals. Ancient curses were even used to discourage lending books to others. One such curse stated: "He who entrusts [this book] to [others'] hands, may all the gods who are found in <a href="/wiki/Babylon" title="Babylon">Babylon</a> curse him!"<sup id="cite_ref-:0_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Medieval_curses">Medieval curses</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Medieval curses"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="Anathema or curse in 12th–13th century manuscript of the Ter Doest Abbey" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg/220px-B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg/330px-B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg/440px-B_OB_MS078_152v_anathema.jpg 2x" data-file-width="765" data-file-height="510" /></a><figcaption>Anathema or curse in 12th–13th century manuscript of the <a href="/wiki/Ter_Doest_Abbey" title="Ter Doest Abbey">Ter Doest Abbey</a></figcaption></figure> <p>In their medieval usage, many of these <a href="/wiki/Curse" title="Curse">curses</a> vowed that harsh repercussions would be inflicted on anyone who appropriated the work from its proper owner. The punishments usually included <a href="/wiki/Excommunication" title="Excommunication">excommunication</a>, <a href="/wiki/Damnation" title="Damnation">damnation</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Anathema" title="Anathema">anathema</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-British_Library_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-British_Library-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Excommunication was the lightest of the curses because it is a reversible state. Both excommunication and anathema required identification of the guilty party as well as action on the part of the Church. Damnation had the benefit of not requiring human intervention as it was a state that the Creator, not the Church, visited instantly upon the soul of the perpetrator. All three types of curses were considered to be effective deterrents against the book thief. </p><p>At the time, these curses provided a significant social and religious penalty for those who would steal or deface books, which were all considered to be precious works before the advent of the <a href="/wiki/Printing_press" title="Printing press">printing press</a>. Writes Stephen Greenblatt, in <i>The Swerve: How the World Became Modern</i>: "Books were scarce and valuable. They conferred prestige on the monastery that possessed them, and the monks were not inclined to let them out of their sight. On occasion monasteries tried to secure their possession by freighting their precious manuscripts with curses."<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>One oft-quoted example of a book curse, purportedly from a <a href="/wiki/Barcelona" title="Barcelona">Barcelona</a> monastery,<sup id="cite_ref-:0_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is actually fictional,<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> taken from the 1909 hoax <i>The Old Librarian's Almanack</i>:<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote><p>And what Condemnation shall befit the accurst Wretch (for he cannot justly claim the title of Man) who pilfers and purloins for his own selfish ends such a precious article as a Book? I am reminded of the Warning display'd in the Library of the Popish Monastery of San Pedro at Barcelona. This is the version English'd by Sir Matthew Manhan, who saw it writ in Latin in the Monastery, as he himself describes in his learn'd Book, <i>Travels in Spanish Countries</i>, 1712. The Warning reads thusly: "For him that stealeth a Book from this Library, let it change to a Serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with <a href="/wiki/Palsy" title="Palsy">Palsy</a>, and all his Members blasted. Let him languish in Pain, crying aloud for Mercy and let there be no surcease to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution. Let Book-worms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final Punishment let the Flames of Hell consume him for ever and aye."</p></blockquote> <p>Medieval scribes wrote most curses in the book's <a href="/wiki/Colophon_(publishing)" title="Colophon (publishing)">colophon</a>. This was the one place in a medieval manuscript where a scribe was free to write what he wished, so book curses tend to be unique to each book.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Occasionally, a clever scribe would put a curse in the form of a rhyme: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><div class="poem"> <p>Steal not this book my honest friend<br /> For fear the gallows should be your end,<br /> And when you die the Lord will say<br /> And where's the book you stole away?<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </div></blockquote> <p>Marc Drogin's book, <i>Anathema! Medieval Scribes and the History of Book Curses</i>,<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1983-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> has been paramount in further understanding the concept of book curses, particularly those from the medieval ages, as he compiled the largest collection of curses thus far. According to Drogin, book curses are evidence of how valuable books were to the scribes and scholars of those days. Drogin also goes to some length in explaining how books were made in the era of monastic scribes, illuminated manuscripts, and parchment. The physical labor and resources necessary in producing a single volume serves to explain why scribes were so inclined to take drastic measures to protect them. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"><div class="poem"> <p>May the sword of anathema slay<br /> If anyone steals this book away.<br /> <i>Si quis furetur</i>,<br /> <i>Anathematis ense necetur</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1983-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </div></blockquote> <p>Since Nabu first used his own name to invoke a book curse, this practice has evolved. Using the book owner's name has changed from medieval to modern times as a way to mark ownership of books. After the invention of the printing press, to protect books, hand-written book curses evolved into printed bookplates that were pasted to the front covers of books, usually styled <i>ex libris</i>, then to the owner's name.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This practice has changed again back to using handwritten names on the interior front cover of books. </p><p>In contrast, a scribe from the Evesham Abbey wrote a "A colophon that praises the scribe's work — and requests high-quality wine ('vini nobilis haustum') for him as a reward — ends with a curse in which the book's thief is wished a 'death from evil things: may the thief of this book die' (Morteque malorum: raptor libri moriatur)".<sup id="cite_ref-British_Library_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-British_Library-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Edwardian_curses">Edwardian curses</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Edwardian curses"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Book curses continued into Edwardian Britain, as an aspect of property ownership. However, by this time, curses were included more as a tradition than a real threat.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Document_curse">Document curse</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Document curse"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A significant subset of the book curse is the document curse. These curses were employed in much the same way as the book curse, but with one significant difference; while book curses almost always protected a physical book (or tablet), document curses were generally worded to protect the text of the document that contained them. They were often found in wills, grants, charters and sometimes in writs.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Document curses show an intersection between Christian beliefs, pagan practices, and legal proceedings.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p> A scribe added a curse to the end of the <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" title="Book of Revelation">book of Revelation</a>, which reads:</p><blockquote><p>I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life in the holy city, which are described in this book.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_8-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote><p> One document curse from an Anglo-Saxon <a href="/wiki/Will_and_testament" title="Will and testament">will</a> written in AD 1046 reads:</p><blockquote><p>And he who shall detract from my will which I have now declared in the witness of God, may he be deprived of joy on this earth, and may the Almighty Lord who created and made all creatures exclude him from the fellowship of all saints on the Day of Judgement, and may he be delivered into the abyss of hell to Satan the devil and all his accursed companions and there suffer with God's adversaries without end and never trouble my heirs.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_21-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote><p>Another document curse from a land grant in AD 934 reads: </p><blockquote><p>If however, which God forbid, anyone puffed up with the pride of arrogance shall try to destroy or infringe this little document of my agreement and confirmation, let him know that on the last and fearful Day of Assembly when the trumpet of the archangel is clanging the call and bodies are leaving the foul graveyards, he will burn with Judas the committer of impious treachery, and also with the miserable Jews blaspheming with sacrilegious mouth Christ on the altar of the cross in eternal confusion in the devouring flames of blazing torments in punishments without end.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_21-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Book_rhyme" title="Book rhyme">Book rhyme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Curse_of_the_Pharaohs" class="mw-redirect" title="Curse of the Pharaohs">Curse of the Pharaohs</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-autogenerated1983-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1983_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFDrogin1983" class="citation book cs1">Drogin, Marc (1983). <i>Anathema!: Medieval Scribes and the History of Book Curses</i>. United States: Allanheld & Schram. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0839003013" title="Special:BookSources/0839003013"><bdi>0839003013</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Anathema%21%3A+Medieval+Scribes+and+the+History+of+Book+Curses&rft.place=United+States&rft.pub=Allanheld+%26+Schram&rft.date=1983&rft.isbn=0839003013&rft.aulast=Drogin&rft.aufirst=Marc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">O'Hagan, L.A. (2020). Steal not this book my honest friend: Threats, Warnings, and Curses in the Edwardian Book. Textual Cultures : Text, Contexts, Interpretation, 13(2), 244–274. <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://doi.org/10.14434/textual.v13i2.31604">https://doi.org/10.14434/textual.v13i2.31604</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNorton,_Jeremy" class="citation web cs1">Norton, Jeremy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=11">"Knowledge as Power: The Earliest Systematically Collected Library as Distinct from an Archive (668 BCE – 627 BCE)"</a>. <i>History of Information</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 14,</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=History+of+Information&rft.atitle=Knowledge+as+Power%3A+The+Earliest+Systematically+Collected+Library+as+Distinct+from+an+Archive+%28668+BCE+%E2%80%93+627+BCE%29&rft.au=Norton%2C+Jeremy&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.historyofinformation.com%2Fexpanded.php%3Fid%3D11&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCasson,_L.2001" class="citation book cs1">Casson, L. (2001). <i>Libraries in the ancient world</i>. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 12.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Libraries+in+the+ancient+world&rft.place=New+Haven&rft.pages=12&rft.pub=Yale+University+Press&rft.date=2001&rft.au=Casson%2C+L.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Casson,_2001,_p.13-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Casson,_2001,_p.13_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Casson,_2001,_p.13_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Casson, 2001, p. 13</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLurker2004" class="citation book cs1">Lurker, Manfred (2004). <i>The Routledge Dictionary of Gods, Goddesses, Devils & Demons</i>. Routledge. p. 131. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780203685259" title="Special:BookSources/9780203685259"><bdi>9780203685259</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Routledge+Dictionary+of+Gods%2C+Goddesses%2C+Devils+%26+Demons&rft.pages=131&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=9780203685259&rft.aulast=Lurker&rft.aufirst=Manfred&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Casson, 2001, pp. 13–14</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:0-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_8-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Murray, Stuart (2009). The Library: An Illustrated History. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 41. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781602397064" title="Special:BookSources/9781602397064">9781602397064</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-British_Library-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-British_Library_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-British_Library_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDrieshen" class="citation web cs1">Drieshen, Clarck. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2017/05/frying-pans-forks-and-fever-medieval-book-curses.html">"Frying pans, forks and fever: Medieval book curses"</a>. <i>Medieval Manuscripts Blog</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 January</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Medieval+Manuscripts+Blog&rft.atitle=Frying+pans%2C+forks+and+fever%3A+Medieval+book+curses&rft.aulast=Drieshen&rft.aufirst=Clarck&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.bl.uk%2Fdigitisedmanuscripts%2F2017%2F05%2Ffrying-pans-forks-and-fever-medieval-book-curses.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGreenblatt,_Stephen2011" class="citation book cs1">Greenblatt, Stephen (2011). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/swervehowworldbe00gree_0/page/30"><i>The Swerve: How the World Became Modern</i></a></span>. W.W. Norton & Co. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/swervehowworldbe00gree_0/page/30">30</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780393064476" title="Special:BookSources/9780393064476"><bdi>9780393064476</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Swerve%3A+How+the+World+Became+Modern&rft.pages=30&rft.pub=W.W.+Norton+%26+Co.&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=9780393064476&rft.au=Greenblatt%2C+Stephen&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fswervehowworldbe00gree_0%2Fpage%2F30&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHiggins,_Colin2011" class="citation news cs1">Higgins, Colin (June 8, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/416409.article">"Marx, Pandora & the Tower of Porn"</a>. <i>Times Higher Education</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">Jan 1,</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Times+Higher+Education&rft.atitle=Marx%2C+Pandora+%26+the+Tower+of+Porn&rft.date=2011-06-08&rft.au=Higgins%2C+Colin&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeshighereducation.co.uk%2F416409.article&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWiegand,_Wayne_A.1979" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Wayne_A._Wiegand" title="Wayne A. Wiegand">Wiegand, Wayne A.</a> (1979). <i>The History of a Hoax: Edmund Lester Pearson, John Cotton Dana, and the Old Librarian's Almanack</i>. Beta Phi Mu.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+History+of+a+Hoax%3A+Edmund+Lester+Pearson%2C+John+Cotton+Dana%2C+and+the+Old+Librarian%27s+Almanack.&rft.pub=Beta+Phi+Mu&rft.date=1979&rft.au=Wiegand%2C+Wayne+A.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDanaKent1909" class="citation book cs1">Dana, John Cotton; Kent, Henry W. (1909). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015008605324"><i>The Old Librarian's Almanack</i></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-08-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Old+Librarian%27s+Almanack&rft.date=1909&rft.aulast=Dana&rft.aufirst=John+Cotton&rft.au=Kent%2C+Henry+W.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbabel.hathitrust.org%2Fcgi%2Fpt%3Fid%3Dmdp.39015008605324&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span> The hoax curse is on p. 27.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCyrus,_Cynthia_J.2009" class="citation book cs1">Cyrus, Cynthia J. (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kKE97gvmWQcC&q=book+curse+on+colophon&pg=PA162"><i>The Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany</i></a>. University of Toronto Press. p. 162. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780802093691" title="Special:BookSources/9780802093691"><bdi>9780802093691</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Scribes+for+Women%27s+Convents+in+Late+Medieval+Germany&rft.pages=162&rft.pub=University+of+Toronto+Press&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=9780802093691&rft.au=Cyrus%2C+Cynthia+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkKE97gvmWQcC%26q%3Dbook%2Bcurse%2Bon%2Bcolophon%26pg%3DPA162&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDownton,_Dawn_Rae2013" class="citation book cs1">Downton, Dawn Rae (2013). <i>The Little Book of Curses and Maledictions for Everyday Use</i>. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Little+Book+of+Curses+and+Maledictions+for+Everyday+Use&rft.pub=Skyhorse+Publishing%2C+Inc.&rft.date=2013&rft.au=Downton%2C+Dawn+Rae&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGoodspeed,_Edgar_Johnson1935" class="citation book cs1">Goodspeed, Edgar Johnson (1935). <i>The Curse in the Colophon</i>. Willett, Clark, & Company.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Curse+in+the+Colophon&rft.pub=Willett%2C+Clark%2C+%26+Company&rft.date=1935&rft.au=Goodspeed%2C+Edgar+Johnson&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMurray2009" class="citation book cs1">Murray, Stuart (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/libraryillustrat0000murr/page/41"><i>The Library: An Illustrated History</i></a>. Skyhorse Publishing. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/libraryillustrat0000murr/page/41">41</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781602397064" title="Special:BookSources/9781602397064"><bdi>9781602397064</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Library%3A+An+Illustrated+History&rft.pages=41&rft.pub=Skyhorse+Publishing&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=9781602397064&rft.aulast=Murray&rft.aufirst=Stuart&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Flibraryillustrat0000murr%2Fpage%2F41&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bookbindersmuseum.org/you-have-been-warned-book-curses-and-cursed-books/">Book Curses</a>." (2016). The American Bookbinders Museum. Retrieved November 27, 2019</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFO'Hagan2020" class="citation journal cs1">O'Hagan, Lauren Alex (2020). "Steal not this book my honest friend: Threats, Warnings, and Curses in the Edwardian Book". <i>Indiana University Press</i>. <b>13</b>: 244–245.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Indiana+University+Press&rft.atitle=Steal+not+this+book+my+honest+friend%3A+Threats%2C+Warnings%2C+and+Curses+in+the+Edwardian+Book&rft.volume=13&rft.pages=244-245&rft.date=2020&rft.aulast=O%27Hagan&rft.aufirst=Lauren+Alex&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDanet,_BrendaBogoch,_Bryna_Bogoch1992" class="citation journal cs1">Danet, Brenda & Bogoch, Bryna Bogoch (Spring 1992). "<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>'Whoever Alters this, may God Turn His Face from Him on the Day of Judgment': Curses in Anglo-Saxon Legal Documents". <i>The Journal of American Folklore</i>. <b>105</b> (416): 132–165 [142]. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F541083">10.2307/541083</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/541083">541083</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+American+Folklore&rft.atitle=%27Whoever+Alters+this%2C+may+God+Turn+His+Face+from+Him+on+the+Day+of+Judgment%27%3A+Curses+in+Anglo-Saxon+Legal+Documents&rft.ssn=spring&rft.volume=105&rft.issue=416&rft.pages=132-165+142&rft.date=1992&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F541083&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F541083%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.au=Danet%2C+Brenda&rft.au=Bogoch%2C+Bryna+Bogoch&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:1-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_21-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_21-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_21-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDanetBogoch1992" class="citation journal cs1">Danet, Brenda; Bogoch, Bryna (1992). "<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>"Whoever Alters This, May God Turn His Face from Him on the Day of Judgement": Cursers in Anglo-Saxon Legal Documents". <i>The Journal of American Folklore</i>. <b>105</b> (416): 132–165. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F541083">10.2307/541083</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/541083">541083</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+American+Folklore&rft.atitle=%22Whoever+Alters+This%2C+May+God+Turn+His+Face+from+Him+on+the+Day+of+Judgement%22%3A+Cursers+in+Anglo-Saxon+Legal+Documents&rft.volume=105&rft.issue=416&rft.pages=132-165&rft.date=1992&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F541083&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F541083%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Danet&rft.aufirst=Brenda&rft.au=Bogoch%2C+Bryna&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Book_curse&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAnderson,_Sandra2003" class="citation web cs1">Anderson, Sandra (2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110706210145/http://capping.slis.ualberta.ca/cap03/sandra/index.html">"Bibliomania and the Medieval Book Curse"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://capping.slis.ualberta.ca/cap03/sandra/index.html">the original</a> on 6 July 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">3 May</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Bibliomania+and+the+Medieval+Book+Curse&rft.date=2003&rft.au=Anderson%2C+Sandra&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcapping.slis.ualberta.ca%2Fcap03%2Fsandra%2Findex.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBasbanes,_Nicholas_A.1995" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Basbanes,_Nicholas_A." class="mw-redirect" title="Basbanes, Nicholas A.">Basbanes, Nicholas A.</a> (1995). <i><a href="/wiki/A_Gentle_Madness:_Bibliophiles,_Bibliomanes,_and_the_Eternal_Passion_for_Books" class="mw-redirect" title="A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books">A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books</a></i>. Owl Books. p. 35. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8050-6176-2" title="Special:BookSources/0-8050-6176-2"><bdi>0-8050-6176-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Gentle+Madness%3A+Bibliophiles%2C+Bibliomanes%2C+and+the+Eternal+Passion+for+Books&rft.pages=35&rft.pub=Owl+Books&rft.date=1995&rft.isbn=0-8050-6176-2&rft.au=Basbanes%2C+Nicholas+A.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDrogin,_Marc1983" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Marc_Drogin" title="Marc Drogin">Drogin, Marc</a> (1983). <i>Anathema! – Medieval Scribes and the History of Book Curses</i>. Allanheld & Schram. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780839003014" title="Special:BookSources/9780839003014"><bdi>9780839003014</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Anathema%21+%E2%80%93+Medieval+Scribes+and+the+History+of+Book+Curses&rft.pub=Allanheld+%26+Schram&rft.date=1983&rft.isbn=9780839003014&rft.au=Drogin%2C+Marc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFUniversity_Libraries,_University_of_Colorado_Boulder2002" class="citation web cs1">University Libraries, University of Colorado Boulder (July 15 – September 13, 2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060908060959/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/past/ploughing/index.htm#">"European Manuscripts from the Middle Ages, 500–1500"</a>. <i>Ploughing the Parchment exhibit</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/past/ploughing/index.htm">the original</a> on 2006-09-08<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 2,</span> 2006</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Ploughing+the+Parchment+exhibit&rft.atitle=European+Manuscripts+from+the+Middle+Ages%2C+500%E2%80%931500&rft.date=2002-07-15%2F2002-09-13&rft.au=University+Libraries%2C+University+of+Colorado+Boulder&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fucblibraries.colorado.edu%2Fspecialcollections%2Fexhibits%2Fpast%2Fploughing%2Findex.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABook+curse" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline 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("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title 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title="Template talk:Books"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Books" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Books"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Books" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Book" title="Book">Books</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Production</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bookbinding" title="Bookbinding">Binding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_cover" title="Book cover">Covers</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dust_jacket" title="Dust jacket">dust jackets</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_design" title="Book design">Design</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Editing" title="Editing">Editing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_illustration" title="Book illustration">Illustration</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Illuminated_manuscript" title="Illuminated manuscript">Illuminated manuscripts</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Printing" title="Printing">Printing</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Edition_(book)" title="Edition (book)">edition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_printing" title="History of printing">history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Incunable" title="Incunable">incunabula</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Instant_book" title="Instant book">instant book</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Limited-edition_book" class="mw-redirect" title="Limited-edition book">limited edition</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Publishing" title="Publishing">Publishing</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advance_copy" title="Advance copy">advance copy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hardcover" title="Hardcover">hardcover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paperback" title="Paperback">paperback</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_size" title="Book size">Size</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Typesetting" title="Typesetting">Typesetting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Volume_(bibliography)" title="Volume (bibliography)">Volume (bibliography)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Collection_(publishing)" title="Collection (publishing)">Collection (publishing)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_series" title="Book series">Book series</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Consumption</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Literary_award" title="Literary award">Awards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bestseller" title="Bestseller">Bestsellers</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books" title="List of best-selling books">list</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bibliography" title="Bibliography">Bibliography</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bibliomania" title="Bibliomania">Bibliomania</a> (<a href="/wiki/Tsundoku" title="Tsundoku">tsundoku</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bibliophilia" title="Bibliophilia">Bibliophilia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bibliotherapy" title="Bibliotherapy">Bibliotherapy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bookmark" title="Bookmark">Bookmarks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bookselling" title="Bookselling">Bookselling</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Blurb" title="Blurb">blurbs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_town" title="Book town">book towns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_bookselling" title="History of bookselling">history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Used_book" title="Used book">used</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_censorship" title="Book censorship">Censorship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_discussion_club" title="Book discussion club">Clubs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_collecting" title="Book collecting">Collecting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_scanning" title="Book scanning">Digitizing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bookworm_(insect)" title="Bookworm (insect)">Bookworm (insect)</a></li> <li>Furniture <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bookcase" title="Bookcase">bookcases</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bookend" title="Bookend">bookends</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library" title="Library">Library</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Print_culture" title="Print culture">Print culture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reading" title="Reading">Reading</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Literacy" title="Literacy">literacy</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_review" title="Book review">Reviews</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">By country</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_Brazil" title="Books in Brazil">Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_France" title="Books in France">France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_Germany" title="Books in Germany">Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_Italy" title="Books in Italy">Italy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Was%C5%8Dbon" title="Wasōbon">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_the_Netherlands" title="Books in the Netherlands">Netherlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_and_publishing_in_Pakistan" class="mw-redirect" title="Books and publishing in Pakistan">Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_Spain" title="Books in Spain">Spain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Books in the United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Books_in_the_United_States" title="Books in the United States">United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Genres <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fictional_book" title="Fictional book">fictional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Miniature_book" title="Miniature book">miniature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pop-up_book" title="Pop-up book">pop-up</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Textbook" title="Textbook">textbook</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grimoire" title="Grimoire">Grimoire</a></li> <li>Formats <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Audiobook" title="Audiobook">audiobooks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ebook" title="Ebook">Ebooks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Folio" title="Folio">Folio</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coffee_table_book" title="Coffee table book">Coffee table book</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_banned_books" title="Lists of banned books">Banned books</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_burning" title="Book burning">Book burning</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_book-burning_incidents" title="List of book-burning incidents">incidents</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings" title="Nazi book burnings">Nazi</a></li></ul></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Book curses</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_packaging" title="Book packaging">Book packaging</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_swapping" title="Book swapping">Book swapping</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Book_tour" title="Book tour">Book tour</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservation_and_restoration_of_books,_manuscripts,_documents_and_ephemera" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts, documents and ephemera">Conservation and restoration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dog_ears" title="Dog ears">Dog ears</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_books" title="History of books">History of books</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scroll" title="Scroll">scroll</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Codex" title="Codex">codex</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intellectual_property" title="Intellectual property">Intellectual property</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ISBN" title="ISBN">ISBN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Novel" title="Novel">Novel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Outline_of_books" title="Outline of books">Outline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Preservation_(library_and_archive)" title="Preservation (library and archive)">Preservation</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Philobiblon" title="The Philobiblon">The Philobiblon</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Book_Day" title="World Book Day">World Book Day</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Book_Capital" title="World Book Capital">World Book Capital</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Outline"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/10px-Global_thinking.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/15px-Global_thinking.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/21px-Global_thinking.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="130" data-file-height="200" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Outline_of_books" title="Outline of books">Outline</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Books" title="Category:Books">Category</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_portal_class.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Portal"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/16px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/23px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/31px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span> <a href="/wiki/Portal:Books" title="Portal:Books">Portal</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <!-- NewPP limit report Parsed by mw‐web.codfw.main‐f69cdc8f6‐rzfvc Cached time: 20241122185220 Cache expiry: 2592000 Reduced expiry: false Complications: [vary‐revision‐sha1, show‐toc] CPU time usage: 0.516 seconds Real time usage: 0.627 seconds Preprocessor visited node count: 1771/1000000 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