Dictionary of Philosophy

A professor in the USA kindly offered to send me a book—any book under the sun. I requested Routledge's Dictionary of Philosophy. Three months later, I have received a notice that the book is at a depot in the city. I really look forward to reading this one. OBSERVATION: I have several small dictionaries of philosophy, among them the Oxford, Penguin, and Collins dictionaries. When I was writing my metaphysics or total philosophy, I checked it against every page of these books, as well as other subject dictionaries.

POSTSCRIPT: I visited the depot. A postal official went into the tangled womb of the building -- then produced proof, with official stamp and all, that someone else had claimed the book. I pressed him. Another postal official took the paper from his fingers, and lo! she produced the book. I said how, then, do you hold proof that you don't have this? The two were side by side: proof that my book existed and proof that it didn't. The first official shouted, "Yes! Sir!" and turned on his heel, and I took my book and counted myself thankful that I had it. The question, of course, is what is going on? In this case, a valuable book would have been rerouted ... where? And what measures would prevent a recurrence of this kind of thing? I had a similar experience in January.