THE FORTSAS CATALOGUE. A Facsimile, with an Introduction By Lessing J. Rosenwald

Renier Hubert Ghislain Chalon; Rosenwald, Lessing J, introduction by

Published by Bird & Bull Press, Printed for the Philobiblion Club, North Hills, Pennsylvania, 1970

About this Item

In English and French. 305 x 242 mm. Complete with the 16 page facsimile catalogue. 13 pages, 4 pages of mounted facsimile plates, colophon page and a staplebound facsimile of the entire catalogue in pocket inside back cover. First Thus. Limited to 250 copies of which this is number 182. Original ¼ brown cloth with marbled paper over boards, spine lettered in black. Facsimile of the hoax auction catalogue issued in 1840, organized by Belgian bibliophile Renier Chalon. A memento of a meeting of the Phylobiblon Club at Jenkintown Pennsylvania. The Introduction is adapted from the paper Lessing Rosenwald read that evening. The Fortsas catalog consists of fictitious books, supposedly belonging to Jean Nepumucene Auguste Pichauld, Comte de Fortsas. The bogus auction was an elaborate hoax, perpetrated in Binche, Belgium in 1840. It was carried out by a retired military officer Renier Hubert Ghislain Chalon, who delighted in pranks designed to befuddle the academic world. Chalon also published more than one false archeological discovery. Typical slight discoloration in gutters, but fades as it gets away from boards, appears to be offset from glue in binding. Otherwise in excellent condition. A fabulous story of one of the world's great biblio hoaxes. Seller Inventory # 009346

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE FORTSAS CATALOGUE. A Facsimile, with an ...

Publisher: Bird & Bull Press, Printed for the Philobiblion Club, North Hills, Pennsylvania

Publication Date: 1970

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket