The renowed Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (BPH) is in grave danger due to a financial conflict with its owner, the businessman J.R. Ritman, and the Friesland Bank. A petition circulated in the academic circuit was signed by over 2500 people within a few days, and the number of signatures keeps growing by the hour: see www.ipetitions.com/petition/ritmanlibrary
If the Ritman library would go down, this would mean an enormous blow to international scholarship. The damage would be irreversible, for there is no comparable collection worldwide. Many researchers from all over the world visit Amsterdam each year specifically to profit from the unique facilities offered by the library and its professional staff. Since the University of Amsterdam offers a unique curriculum in Hermetic Studies at the Bachelor and Master levels, for the many Dutch and international students in this program the BPH is an indispensable resource.
A selection from among the many scholars who signed the petition and expressed their deep concern is listed below. While we understand that the business conflict must be resolved in a satisfactory manner, we hereby make a strong appeal to the Friesland Bank and the Dutch government to recognize their responsibility to international academic research and do their utmost to preserve this unique and irreplaceable library.
This urgent appeal to the Friesland Bank and the Dutch government is an initiative of the Centre for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam.
A selection from the signatories in support of preserving the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
Dr. U.I. Aasdalen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Dr. S. Aberth, Bard College, New York, USA
Dr. M. Azzolini, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Dr. K. Baier, University of Vienna, Austria
Prof. E. Barker, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. J.A.A.M. Biemans, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Bocking, University College Cork, Ireland
Prof. dr. R. Bod, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dr. H. Bogdan, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Prof. L. Bolzoni, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy
Prof. J.-P. Brach, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne), Paris, France
Prof. dr. W. Breul, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
Prof. dr. R. van den Broek, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. W. van Bunge, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr J.W.J. Burgers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. C. Burnett, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Prof. C.S. Clifton, Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA
Dr. S. Clucas, University of London, United Kingdom
Dr. J. Crispin, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Prof. Z. Davydov, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Dr. G. Djurdjevic, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Prof. dr. A. Droogers, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. W. Eamon, New Mexico State University, USA
Prof. E.G. Ernst, University of Rome, Italy
Prof. A. Faivre, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne), Paris, France
Prof. G. Flood, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Dr. P.J. Forshaw, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr W. Frijhoff, Free University Amsterdam / Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Galkowski, University of Warsaw, Poland
Prof. I. Gardner, University of Sydney, Australia
Prof. P. Giller, American Jewish University, Los Angeles, USA
Prof. J. Godwin, Colgate University, USA
Prof. N. Goodrick-Clarke, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Dr. P. Gouk, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Dr. K. Granholm, University of Stockholm, Sweden
Prof. J.H. Grayson, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. E.K. Grootes, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. M. Hagemeister, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
Dr. H. Hames, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Prof. O. Hammer, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Prof. dr. W.J. Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. S. Hill, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, USA
Dr. W. Hofstee, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. P.W. van der Horst, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Huss, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Dr. M. Introvigne, CESNUR, Italy
Prof. dr. F.A. Janssen, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. A. F. de Jong, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Dr. D. Kahn, Centre Nationale des Recherches Scientifiques, France
Prof. A. Kilcher, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Prof. J. Kraye, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. L. Kuitert, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. R. Liedtke, Otto-Friedrich University, Bamberg, Germany
Dr. P. Lucas, Stetson University, DeLand, USA
Dr. C. McIntosh, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Dr. M. Meumann, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Prof. T. Miller, University of Kansas, USA
Prof. J. Monfasani, University at Albany/State University of New York, USA
Prof. C. Moreschini, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Prof. dr. M.E.H.N. Mout, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. P. Mulacz, University of Vienna, Austria
Prof. dr. M. Mulsow, University of Erfurt, Germany
Prof. dr. L. Nauta, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. M. Neugebauer-Wölk, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Prof. dr. P. Nissen, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Prof. S.A. Olsen, College of Central Florida, USA
Prof. dr. J. Oosterman, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. H. van Os, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dr. M. Pasi, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. M. Pereira, University of Siena, Italy
Prof. V. Perrone Compagni, Università degli Studi, Florence, Italy
Dr. D. Porreca, University of Waterloo, Canada
Prof. L.M. Principe, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Dr. J. Rampling, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Dr. M. Ramstedt, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/Saale, Germany
Prof. V. Rees, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
Prof. R.H. Roberts, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
Prof. G.P. Romagnani, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Prof. W.F. Ryan, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Dr. J. Salman, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. A. van de Sande, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. J.A. Santucci, California State University, Fullerton, USA
Prof. dr. W. Schmidt-Biggemann, Free University, Berlin, Germany
Prof. M. Sedgwick, Aarhus University, Denmark
Prof. S. Shamdasani, University College London, United Kingdom
Prof. G. Shaw, Stonehill College, Easton Mass, USA
Prof. dr. C.K.M. von Stuckrad, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Prof. R. Styers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Prof. G.E. Szonyi, University of Szeged, Hungary
Prof. C.T. Tart, University of California, Davis, USA
Dr. K. Triplett, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
Dr. M. Valente, University of Molise, Italy
Prof. dr. J. Verrips, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. M.E. Warlick, University of Denver, USA
Dr. F. Wefelmeyer, University of Sunderland, United Kingdom
Prof. N. Weill-Parot, University of Paris 8, France
Prof. F. Wesemael, University of Montreal, Canada
Prof. dr. G.A. Wiegers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. T. Willard, University of Arizona, USA
Prof. dr. J.M. van Winter, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. E.R. Wolfson, New York University, New York, USA
Dr. H. Zander, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
A selection from among the many scholars who signed the petition and expressed their deep concern is listed below. While we understand that the business conflict must be resolved in a satisfactory manner, we hereby make a strong appeal to the Friesland Bank and the Dutch government to recognize their responsibility to international academic research and do their utmost to preserve this unique and irreplaceable library.
This urgent appeal to the Friesland Bank and the Dutch government is an initiative of the Centre for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam.
A selection from the signatories in support of preserving the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
Dr. U.I. Aasdalen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Dr. S. Aberth, Bard College, New York, USA
Dr. M. Azzolini, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Dr. K. Baier, University of Vienna, Austria
Prof. E. Barker, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. J.A.A.M. Biemans, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Bocking, University College Cork, Ireland
Prof. dr. R. Bod, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dr. H. Bogdan, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Prof. L. Bolzoni, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy
Prof. J.-P. Brach, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne), Paris, France
Prof. dr. W. Breul, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
Prof. dr. R. van den Broek, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. W. van Bunge, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr J.W.J. Burgers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. C. Burnett, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Prof. C.S. Clifton, Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA
Dr. S. Clucas, University of London, United Kingdom
Dr. J. Crispin, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Prof. Z. Davydov, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Dr. G. Djurdjevic, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Prof. dr. A. Droogers, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. W. Eamon, New Mexico State University, USA
Prof. E.G. Ernst, University of Rome, Italy
Prof. A. Faivre, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne), Paris, France
Prof. G. Flood, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Dr. P.J. Forshaw, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr W. Frijhoff, Free University Amsterdam / Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Galkowski, University of Warsaw, Poland
Prof. I. Gardner, University of Sydney, Australia
Prof. P. Giller, American Jewish University, Los Angeles, USA
Prof. J. Godwin, Colgate University, USA
Prof. N. Goodrick-Clarke, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Dr. P. Gouk, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Dr. K. Granholm, University of Stockholm, Sweden
Prof. J.H. Grayson, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. E.K. Grootes, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. M. Hagemeister, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
Dr. H. Hames, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Prof. O. Hammer, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Prof. dr. W.J. Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. S. Hill, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, USA
Dr. W. Hofstee, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. P.W. van der Horst, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. B. Huss, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Dr. M. Introvigne, CESNUR, Italy
Prof. dr. F.A. Janssen, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. A. F. de Jong, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Dr. D. Kahn, Centre Nationale des Recherches Scientifiques, France
Prof. A. Kilcher, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Prof. J. Kraye, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Prof. dr. L. Kuitert, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. R. Liedtke, Otto-Friedrich University, Bamberg, Germany
Dr. P. Lucas, Stetson University, DeLand, USA
Dr. C. McIntosh, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Dr. M. Meumann, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Prof. T. Miller, University of Kansas, USA
Prof. J. Monfasani, University at Albany/State University of New York, USA
Prof. C. Moreschini, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Prof. dr. M.E.H.N. Mout, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. P. Mulacz, University of Vienna, Austria
Prof. dr. M. Mulsow, University of Erfurt, Germany
Prof. dr. L. Nauta, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. M. Neugebauer-Wölk, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Prof. dr. P. Nissen, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Prof. S.A. Olsen, College of Central Florida, USA
Prof. dr. J. Oosterman, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. H. van Os, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dr. M. Pasi, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. M. Pereira, University of Siena, Italy
Prof. V. Perrone Compagni, Università degli Studi, Florence, Italy
Dr. D. Porreca, University of Waterloo, Canada
Prof. L.M. Principe, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Dr. J. Rampling, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Dr. M. Ramstedt, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/Saale, Germany
Prof. V. Rees, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
Prof. R.H. Roberts, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
Prof. G.P. Romagnani, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Prof. W.F. Ryan, Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
Dr. J. Salman, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. A. van de Sande, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
Prof. J.A. Santucci, California State University, Fullerton, USA
Prof. dr. W. Schmidt-Biggemann, Free University, Berlin, Germany
Prof. M. Sedgwick, Aarhus University, Denmark
Prof. S. Shamdasani, University College London, United Kingdom
Prof. G. Shaw, Stonehill College, Easton Mass, USA
Prof. dr. C.K.M. von Stuckrad, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Prof. R. Styers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Prof. G.E. Szonyi, University of Szeged, Hungary
Prof. C.T. Tart, University of California, Davis, USA
Dr. K. Triplett, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
Dr. M. Valente, University of Molise, Italy
Prof. dr. J. Verrips, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. M.E. Warlick, University of Denver, USA
Dr. F. Wefelmeyer, University of Sunderland, United Kingdom
Prof. N. Weill-Parot, University of Paris 8, France
Prof. F. Wesemael, University of Montreal, Canada
Prof. dr. G.A. Wiegers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. T. Willard, University of Arizona, USA
Prof. dr. J.M. van Winter, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Prof. E.R. Wolfson, New York University, New York, USA
Dr. H. Zander, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
