Bristol bookseller stole £230,000 from Rothschilds
A bookseller from Bristol has pleaded guilty to stealing rare books worth more than £230,000 from one of the world's most powerful financiers.
David Slade, 59, of Boston Road, Horfield, admitted taking 68 books from Sir Evelyn de Rothschild over a seven year period.
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Slade, who worked for George's bookshop which later became Blackwells in Park Street, was hired by the Rothschilds in 2001 to catalogue the family book collection.
The dealer, who has sold books around the world since the age of 17, visited Rothschild's home, Ascott country estate in Buckinghamshire, up to three times a week from January 2001.
He has admitted removing books from the family library and then selling them on at auction.
Each book he stole was extremely valuable and crafted by one of the private book presses which operated in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The total theft was worth a staggering £232,880, Aylesbury Crown Court was told.
It wasn't until a routine audit was carried out last year that Rothschild noticed his books had gone missing.
Slade, the head of Georges and later Backwells' antiquarian department, is a former president of the UK's Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA), the senior trade body for dealers in rare and fine books and manuscripts.
George's of Park Street was a well known landmark in the city.
But when Blackwells abandoned antiquarian bookselling in Bristol, Slade left and set up as an independent bookseller.
Alan Shelley, ABA's current president, released a statement to the organisation's members this week.
It read: "The ABA is shocked to learn of David Slade's conviction and probable imprisonment for book theft.
"The scale of his activities, and the appalling breach of the trust placed in him, render this a very serious offence, and while we are deeply sorry to see a former member in such a situation, we unhesitatingly deplore his crimes.
"Theft of books, whether from public or private collections, or indeed from members of the trade, is a very serious matter, and the vast majority of honest booksellers are anxious to be given full particulars of any missing items or suspicious transactions without delay."
While major international libraries often alert each other about rare books which have been stolen, not all libraries admit to having fallen victim to theft.
Mr Shelley added: "The only way we can eradicate the trafficking of stolen books is by working closely with librarians, collectors, auctioneers and our fellow booksellers; the one positive aspect of these recent lamentable cases is that they do suggest that the problem of book theft is being taken seriously at last."
Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild are ranked as the 150th richest couple in the world, worth £527 million.
Slade was due to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Wednesday afternoon.
The sentencing had originally been scheduled to be heard earlier this week, but had to be cancelled because snow prevented lawyers from getting to court.
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by revenge is sweet, Bristol
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 9:34PM
“OH dear Mr Slade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After all those smug things you said to me 25 years ago !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it turns out that your more of a thief !!!!!!! Than i ever was !!!! OR would ever be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I learnt at the age of 17 how stupid my actions had been !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then it turns out 26 years down the line you cant even live to your own MORAL CODE ! !!!!!!!!!!! never mind , as the old saying goes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE who laughs last ! Laughs the longest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by me, The World
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 8:38PM
“What this article does not mention is what the judge said (bbc.co.uk) 'Judge Christopher Tyrer made a recovery order for all the unsold books from the auctions and those found in Slade's house to be returned.
He told Slade that his actions after being employed to catalogue the books were a "grave lapse" from his normal high standards.
He said he accepted that Slade was motivated by debt and not greed.'
'Gregory Bull QC, defending Slade, said he was now a "ruined man" who faced bankruptcy and was likely to lose £100,000 worth of assets'
Normal hight standards, got into trouble with debt has already lost because of his error.
Should we have faith in the justice system, when you get 28 months for this, but only 18 months for murder.....?”
by GingerRog, Bristol
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 3:27PM
“You only have to look at urbandictionary.com to see the different interpretations of the term "do-gooder".”
by C, Bristol
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 2:40PM
“Alan, I actually live in a 4 bed house in Frenchay (A far better area than Stoke Bishop im sure you will agree) but thanks all the same! Actually people who stick to the rules are 'normal' people, when I say do-gooder, I actually mean these people who state we can¿t punish criminals for the crimes they have committed! When I say punish, I don¿t mean give someone a 18 month jail sentence for punching someone to death. I mean give them the death sentence as well! A life for a life is in my opinion, fair!”
by Jean, Nailsea
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 2:15PM
“If you break the law you are a wrong doer. If you stick to the law you are a do gooder. I think some people are confused about what they are as they dont break the law but criticise themselves for doing it! Nowt stranger than folk!”
by Alan, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:40PM
“No C, I wouldn't. Advocating that would mean I was on the same level as them. That I would unduly want to hurt another human being. I would suggest life imprisonment and chemical castration personally in the worst cases. I also stick to most laws alsthough I may break some, like go over 30 in a 30mph zone. if I am caught or kill someone because of that I will have to face the consequenes. So in short C, I consider myself morally superior to a child abuser, not on the same level. I presume you are one of those peadophile hunters that live in rough council estates with a very small forehead and target random strangers?”
by C, Bristol
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:30PM
“Well, I don¿t happen to mix with idiots who commit crimes so I wouldn¿t have to worry about that Alan. Im quite sure you would all happily turn around and agree that a paedophile should be burnt alive though wouldn¿t you?”
by Alan, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:19PM
“Just show the mentality of some people in the Bristol area. It saddens me. This man did wrong. He stole some books and made a considerable amount of money out of it. He has been arrested and he will be prosecuted. What is more abhorrent is the type of response to it from some quarters. You can pretend to be decent human beings but quite frankly you are about as far away from it as you can get. You want a medal for following basic laws? Hoorah I dont break the law, look at me arent I good. Sanctimonious clap trap. Of course your wishes will never come true thankfully, but if they did I hope someone you know wouldnt be on the end of your version of justice.”
by Raji, Southville
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 12:56PM
“What a load of hypocritical fools their appear to be. the sort of people who have an immaculate garden, think they do absolutely no wrong, buy the Daily mail, treasurer of their local association yet underneath, hidden away is disgusting and sicko thoughts. Pure idiots”
by MarkC, Briz
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 12:53PM
“I am glad there are so many people who do no wrong on this thread. By definition therefore you are do gooders? What numpties. Personally I think it is wrong to suggest mutilation and burning for a book thief. I would suggest anyone who does is slightly wrong in the head.”