A book made of human skin was found in the Harvard library (7 photos)

Harvard experts found that a 19th-century book stored in one of the university libraries, has a cover made from human skin.







Recently, the staff of the Harvard Library discovered in the archives three books with unusual covers. They were slightly smooth and even slightly shiny, noticeably different from ordinary leather-bound books.



Scientists and restorers conducted a series of tests on the copy books by the French writer Arsene Usse "Des destinees de l'ame" ("The Fates of the Heart"), stored in the Houghton Library, and came to the conclusion that with a probability of 99.9% the material for binding and cover was leather person. Yes, real human skin!



Shocked by their discovery, scientists decided to conduct a small study. They found out that leather-bound books were quite popular in the 17th century. It's called It's often done in anatomy textbooks. This practice was called anthropodermic bibliopegy. It has become especially popular among physicians who used the skin of corpses after they had dissected them for research. It was their way of ensuring careful use of the body. and don't let anything go to waste.



The suspicion of scientists was caused by three books found in the Harvard library. These were writings on Roman poetry, French philosophy and a treatise on medieval Spanish law. Inside the last called Practicarum quaestionum circa leges regias also had an inscription that read: “The cover of this book is all that remains of my dear friend Jonas Wright, who was skinned alive Vavum on the fourth day of August 1632. King Mbese gave me this book, most important thing to Jonas in all his possessions, along with enough of his skin to weave it. Rest in peace". This book received a lot of attention because of this inscription. Harvard scientists tested it - but it turned out that its cover was made from the skin of cattle and pigs.



Scientists from Harvard decided to check all suspicious books in university libraries and found that at least one of the books found in their collection were indeed bound in human skin. Harvard Laboratory Director Bill Lane said: "The result is variants of the origin of the cover material, such as pigs, sheep, cattle and goats." According to the researchers, the the book's owner, Dr. Ludovik Buland, bound it in "leather with unclaimed body of a mentally ill woman who died of a stroke.



According to researchers, there are probably other books in the world in bound from human skin, but because of the negative attitude towards anthropodermic bibliopegy can be difficult to find owners, ready to confess their possession of such books.