<![CDATA[Harvard’s rare collection of books has been known to include a few volumes bound in human flesh. There is doubt however, whether these books are really wrapped in human skin as tests have revealed that at least one of the books is actually sheep skin. Harvard has among its vast collection of books, a few volumes that have literally been resting in pieces on their library shelves. These books are claimed to have been bound in human skin. What might seem ghastly to those in the modern world is actually an age old practice that dates back to 13th century. The library at Harvard holds over 15 million books but librarians still have no clue as to how many in that collection are actually bound by human skin. The books in question include “Des destinées de l’ame…,” by Arsène Houssaye; A book about French philosophy, a book on medieval law (Spanish) dating back to the 17th century and a collection of Roman poetry . Although the book on Spanish medieval law contains suggestive inscriptions at the back of the book, they have turned out to be inaccurate. Laboratory tests on proteins found in the binding have concluded that it is sheepskin, rather than human. There is no distinct difference these books when compared to other books, and without an inscription that states what material makes up the covers there is no real clue as to what the material of the covers consist of. The books do not really resemble human flesh and skin bindings are only recognizable to someone who is an expert; the discolored look similar to books that have been around for many years makes these books look fairly normal. The law book includes an inscription that suggests that it was done in honor of a dear friend rather than something fiendish. “the bynding of this booke is all that remains of my dear friende Jonas Wright, who was flayed alive by the Wavuma on the Fourth Day of August, 1632. King Mbesa did give me the book, it being one of poore Jonas chiefe possessions, together with ample of his skin to bynd it. Requiescat in pace.” Lawrence S Thompson, states that the practice of anthropodermic bibliopegy i.e. binding books in human skin goes all the way back to the 13th century with a French Bible. The practice took shape in the 17th century however, with evidence stated in a Crimson article. The article reports that on exhibition was the “finest collection of miniature books”. Included among the collection was a book bound in skin. The most famous book that has been bound as human skin is the book by James Allen, entitled “The Highwayman; Narrative of the Life of James Allen alias George Walton”. The book lies at the Athenaeum and is bound by Allen’s own skin at his request. He asked that the book be presented to a man he tried to rob. Other books have been tested including the book entitled “Practicarum quaestionum circa leges regias Hispaniae”. The results were inconclusive regarding whether or not it was indeed human skin]]>