Rare 16th century book stolen at Frankfurt fair

Thieves stole a rare 16th-century Portuguese book estimated to be worth 18,500 euros ($25,500) at the world's biggest book fair here last month, police said Wednesday.

Thieves stole a rare 16th-century Portuguese book estimated to be worth 18,500 euros ($25,500) at the world's biggest book fair here last month, police said Wednesday.

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Written in 1542 by Portuguese humanist philosopher Damiao de Gois, a friend and student of Erasmus, the 30-page book is entitled "Hispania damiani a goes equitis lusitani".

It was stolen from the stand of specialist Dutch publisher's "Asher Rare Books" during the Frankfurt Book Fair, police said, confirming a report in the mass-circulation Bild newspaper.

Although the work is valued at 18,500 euros, its could be worth ten times that to a collector, the paper said.