msabinus.bsky.social

@msabinus.bsky.social

Retired educator keenly interested in manuscript/early printed fragments, 18th C gothic fiction, and Barbara Stanwyck. https://archive.org/details/@msabinus?sort=title

6 months ago, I posted that a martyrology leaf, damaged but largely intact, had been recently sliced and the lower half offered on eBay. Reader, the top half has just been listed for sale. Fragmentoclasm is a thing, apparently. *anguished cry* Caveat emptor fragmentorum.

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When asked just what do I do, I often utter darkly, “I rescue manuscripts before they become someone’s découpage project.” I never truly believed that anyone selling a fragment would encourage such a practice — then I saw this on eBay. Perfect entry for “10 Word Horror Story” contest. #fragmentology

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I know about book breaking but had no idea that fragment breaking was a thing. A martyrology leaf offered recently by a respected dealer is now offered on eBay, having been recently (within the past 2 months) sliced in half. The other half has gone missing. *angry sigh* Caveat emptor fragmentorum.

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