Forging History: The Detection of Fake Letters & Documents

by Kenneth W. Rendell

Discusses the art of manuscript, document, and antiquity forgery, and explains how such fakes can be detected

Genres: History

171 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1994

Reviews

[Arjun]

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Chapter 2
The Materials: Paper, Ink, and Writing Instruments

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rendell is undoubtedly the top living expert in the field of autographs, collectable historical handwriting, and the forgery thereof (always a popular pasttime among a certain sort of literary fanatic). For whatever reason, I enjoy studying the signatures and penmanship of famous people -- Lincoln’s carefully legible and businesslike hand vs. Washington’s rather ornate, almost frilly style or Lyndon Johnson’s straight-ahead signature, Prince Metternich’s determined, saber-like signature vs. Hitler’s totally illegible chop. Rendell was also instrumental in uncovering and demonstrating the falsity of the Hitler diaries (in only half an hour, after Stern magazine and considered them genuine for many months), the Jack the Ripper diary, and the “White Salamander” letter, supposedly written by Joseph Smith (and which made the Mormon establishment very nervous). If this is the sort of thing you’re interested in, as they say, then this is the sort of thing that will interest you.

[Eldon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not only shy on storytelling but light on technical aspects with overall poor quality photography. OK as a quick intro to the subject but look elsewhere for any depth.