BIBLIOCLASM is a new peer-reviewed scholarly series and research programme devoted to the destruction, theft, mutilation, dismantling, illicit circulation, recovery and reconstruction of books and manuscripts; its first volume gathers original research selected through this call. Topics include theft from libraries, archives and private collections, commercial dismemberment, provenance research and ownership histories, leaves circulating on the antiquarian and auction markets, restitution and repatriation, cultural-property law, digital reconstruction of dispersed codices, and the ethics of collecting. Documented case studies drawing on unpublished archival, codicological, palaeographical, legal, bibliographical or market evidence are particularly welcome. The call is open to established scholars, early-career researchers and independent researchers, and academic status and institutional affiliation are not selection criteria, but contributions are not accepted from authors professionally involved in the commercial manuscript and rare-book trade. Proposals comprise a 300-500 word abstract, five keywords and a short biographical note, in English, French, Italian or Spanish, due 15 November 2026, with notification on 15 January 2027 and full articles of 5,000-10,000 words due 1 March 2027.
- Career stagePostdoctoral, Early career, Independent scholar
- Affiliation restrictionBIBLIOCLASM does not accept scholarly contributions from authors who are professionally involved in the commercial trade of manuscripts, manuscript leaves, rare books, or related cultural property. This includes, but is not limited to, dealers, commercial intermediaries, auction-house specialists or consultants, and paid advisers involved in the acquisition, attribution, cataloguing, valuation, or sale of such material.
- OtherAI-generated or substantially AI-composed scholarly content presented as the author's own intellectual work will not be accepted.
- StatusOpen
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