WEIMAR, Germany Sept. 3, 2004 — Thousands of irreplaceable books were feared lost or damaged in a fire at one of Germany’s most precious libraries, though some 6,000 historical works including a 1534 Martin Luther Bible were saved by a chain of people who spirited them away from the flames, officials said Friday.
Officials were surveying the damage caused by the Thursday night fire in Weimar’s Duchess Anna Amalia Library, housed in a 16th-century rococo-style palace. The fire broke out in a top floor and raged for two hours before firefighters put it out.
The cause is under investigation.
“
Fire loss
This was really sad to hear of these losses, the Library had, in addition to a large collection of 16-18th century works, the largest collection of original copies of Goete’s Faust.
On the positive side (if there is one)I thought it enterprising and encouraging to hear that some damaged (but not destroyed volumes), “are being frozen in an effort to preserve them so they can be sent to Leipzig for restoration.” [from NY Times Sept 4]
Sean