Gregory Priore is a former archivist at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Library who orchestrated one of history’s most audacious rare book thefts. Over 25 years, he misappropriated over $8 million worth of precious materials, including a 1615 Breeches Bible and Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica. Priore exploited his insider access to systematically dismantle the library’s cultural heritage, collaborating with rare book dealer John Schulman to sell the stolen goods.
The theft dealt a devastating blow to the library and cultural community, exposing significant security failures. Both men pleaded guilty and received sentences including probation and restitution. This case reminds us of the challenges institutions face in safeguarding precious and irreplaceable artifacts.
The Carnegie Library Heist
Greed and audacity fueled one of history’s most extensive rare book heists at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. Gregory Priore, the library’s former archivist, orchestrated the theft of over $8 million worth of rare books, maps, and artworks from the prestigious institution for over 25 years.
How could a large-scale theft go unnoticed for so long? Priore’s insider knowledge and access to the library’s archives enabled him to remove unique and irreplaceable pieces from the collection — one by one. He worked with rare book dealer John Schulman to dismantle the library’s cultural heritage systematically.
The heist’s impact extends far beyond monetary value. The stolen items represent immense historical and cultural loss, with many pieces now lost to the illicit art market. Tracing these stolen goods proved challenging for authorities due to the nature of the black market and the items’ gradual disappearance over time.
While Priore and Schulman were eventually caught and charged, their light sentences due to the COVID-19 pandemic left many questioning the justice served in this case.
Gregory Priore’s Role
Gregory Priore was a trusted insider who betrayed the Carnegie Library’s confidence. As the archivist and manager of the Special Collections Room for over three decades, Priore had uncontested access to the library’s most precious treasures. He exploited this position, systematically pilfering hundreds of rare books and documents over a staggering 25-year period.
Priore’s intimate knowledge of the Carnegie Library’s collection enabled him to target the most significant items with care and precision. He collaborated with rare book dealer John Schulman to transport and sell the stolen goods, amassing over $8 million in illicit profits. The heist dealt a devastating blow to the library and the cultural heritage community.
When caught, Priore pleaded guilty to charges including theft, receiving stolen property, and forgery. Despite the severity of his crimes, he was sentenced to 3 years of home confinement and 12 years of probation, avoiding jail time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The judge’s remarks underscored the significant impact of Priore’s betrayal on the Carnegie Library and its patrons.
Timeline of the Thefts
The timeline of Gregory Priore’s audacious thefts spans over 25 years, revealing a carefully executed plan that went undetected for far too long. Over 25 years, Priore exploited his position as an archivist at the Carnegie Library to misappropriate hundreds of rare books and materials worth millions. He fastidiously selected high-value items from the library’s special collections, using his insider knowledge to avoid detection.
Priore’s collaboration with rare book dealer John Schulman enabled him to transport and sell the stolen goods through various channels in the illicit art market. We break the theft’s timeline down into four key phases:
- Initial planning and selection of targets
- Systematic removal of items from the library
- Transportation and sale of stolen materials
- Continued theft and evasion of detection
It wasn’t until 2017 that the extent of Priore’s crimes came to light during a library appraisal. The identification revealed that around 320 items and 16 maps and images had been damaged or missing. Due to his crimes, Priore received a sentence of three years of house arrest and 12 years of probation.
Notable Stolen Books
Among the hundreds of items Gregory Priore stole, several stand out for their historical significance and exceptional value. These purloined treasures were valued by their rarity and importance. The most valuable item was a 1615 Breeches Bible worth over $1 million. This version of the Geneva Bible got its name from its unique translation of Genesis 3:7, where Adam and Eve make “breeches” to cover themselves.
Another notable theft was Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, a revolutionary work in physics and mathematics. This book laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and is regarded as one of the most important scientific works ever published. Another significant stolen item was an atlas by a 19th-century German navigator, adding to the diverse range of pilfered texts.
The stolen collection spanned from the 15th to 20th centuries, representing a vast swath of human knowledge and history. With a total value of nearly $8 million, these rare books and artifacts were irreplaceable parts of the library’s special collections. Their theft represents an immeasurable loss to scholars and the public.
John Schulman’s Involvement
Besides Gregory Priore, John Schulman, owner of Caliban Book Shop, was another key figure of the rare book heist. Schulman, a respected member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, worked with Priore to steal and sell over $8 million worth of rare books from the library over a quarter of a century.
Schulman’s involvement in this scheme led to serious legal consequences:
- He faced charges including theft, receiving stolen property, and forgery
- He was sentenced to 4 years of home confinement and 12 years of probation
- He was ordered to pay $55,731 in restitution
- He had to plead guilty to the charges against him
Despite his guilty plea, Schulman attempted to declare his innocence in an email, which the judge dismissed as “hollow and unpersuasive.” The judge also believed Schulman planned a “damage control” with a public relations campaign to regain his reputation and continue working as a rare book appraiser. However, Schulman’s attempt to downplay his involvement in the theft scheme further damaged his credibility in the eyes of the court and the rare book community.
Investigation and Discovery
Routine appraisals at a library normally yield mundane results. However, the 2017 assessment of Carnegie Library’s collection in Pittsburgh disclosed a shocking truth. The evaluation revealed a staggering loss of approximately 320 items, along with 16 maps and images. This discovery set off alarm bells and launched an extensive investigation into one of the most significant rare book thefts in recent history.
As investigators probed further, they zeroed in on Gregory Priore, the former archivist and manager of the library’s special collections room. Priore’s position had granted him unparalleled access to rare materials, enabling him to exploit his insider knowledge over a staggering 25-year period. The FBI’s involvement in the case led to the tracing of some stolen items, including a cherished 1615 Breeches Edition Bible, to various locations.
The investigation exposed the theft’s true magnitude, with missing items valued at over $8 million. This revelation sent shockwaves through the library community, emphasizing the urgency for enhanced security measures and stricter oversight in cultural institutions to prevent future losses.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The investigation’s outcome paved the way for a highly anticipated legal battle. Gregory Priore and John Schulman faced charges for their roles in the $8 million rare book theft. However, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the sentencing, making it less severe than expected.
The judge handed down the following sentences:
- Priore: 3 years of home confinement and 12 years of probation
- Schulman: 4 years of home confinement and 12 years of probation
- Schulman: $55,731 in restitution
- Both: Prohibited from profiting from any publications or films about the thefts
The judge cited the pandemic as a factor, stating he would have sentenced Priore to jail otherwise. He also criticized Schulman’s claims of innocence, calling them “hollow and unpersuasive.”
The defendants’ attorneys argued for probation, describing their clients as remorseful first-time nonviolent offenders. However, the judge maintained that the two men’s actions had betrayed their professions, the library, their families, and Allegheny County’s citizens.
Impact on the Library
The heist sent shockwaves through the Carnegie Library. It dealt a devastating blow to an institution dedicated to preserving knowledge and culture. The loss of almost $8 million worth of rare books and materials wasn’t just a financial hit; it was a betrayal of public trust that shook the library to its core.
The damage wasn’t limited to the missing items. About 320 books and 16 maps were damaged, further depleting the library’s irreplaceable collection. The chairman’s words paint a stark image: these treasures, meant to be studied and cherished, were instead pillaged for personal gain.
One cannot overstate the theft’s impact on the Carnegie Library’s reputation in Allegheny County. It exposed glaring vulnerabilities in their security measures and processes. The library had to implement stricter protocols and increased security to regain public trust. The incident is a sobering reminder of the challenges institutions face in safeguarding our cultural heritage and the devastating consequences when that trust is shattered from within.
Security Failures and Lessons
Security failures at the Carnegie Library paved the way for Gregory Priore to pilfer millions in rare books over a quarter-century. The library’s lax safeguarding approach left it vulnerable to insider theft. Priore’s position as an archivist and manager of the special collections room gave him unrestricted access to precious materials, which he exploited without detection for over 25 years.
The Carnegie Library’s security shortcomings included:
- Inadequate inventory management
- Lack of robust oversight
- Insufficient auditing procedures
- Poor employee vetting processes
These glaring failures highlight the urgent need for libraries and institutions housing rare collections to reassess and fortify their security protocols. The case serves as a wake-up call for further protecting valuable and irreplaceable cultural artifacts.
The public criticized the light sentences handed to Priore and his accomplice. They argued that it failed to send a strong message about the severity of cultural heritage theft. This outcome underlines the need for harsher penalties to deter potential thieves and underscores the significance of valuing and safeguarding our shared literary and historical treasures.
Cultural Significance of Stolen Works
The Carnegie Library’s countless security failures enabled the theft. However, it’s the cultural impact that echoes. The stolen works from the library represented far more than just monetary value; they were irreplaceable pieces of our shared intellectual heritage. It’s hard to quantify the loss to scholars and the public who have been deprived of access to these rare resources.
Consider Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, a cornerstone of scientific thought, or the McKenney and Hall volumes on Native American tribes, essential for understanding our nation’s history. They were more than mere publications; they were windows into the past and foundations for future research.
The 25-year-old massive heist tarnished the Carnegie Library’s reputation as a guardian of knowledge, impacting its ability to fulfill its mission. The crime’s aftermath is devastating – it has robbed us all of the cultural treasures spanning five centuries. It has left an immense void in the scholarly community, precluding research and the preservation of our intellectual legacy.
These stolen works’ cultural significance extends beyond their pages, representing a collective loss of historical artifacts that are truly irreplaceable.