Over 170 Rare Editions of Russian Classics Stolen from European Libraries and Replaced with Copies

Over 170 rare editions of Russian classics have been stolen from libraries across Europe and replaced with copies. This information was reported by The New York Times and conveyed by TASS.

The police are investigating a "widespread, systematic series of thefts of 19th-century rare Russian books" throughout Europe. The library of the University of Warsaw has been most severely affected, with 78 books reported missing. Each book is valued at tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, the publication clarifies.

The New York Times also notes that some of the missing editions have been replaced with copies that only experts can differentiate from the originals.