S5E16 The Book Forger – Forgery, First Editions, and a Bibliographic Scandal
Description
After weeks of heavy, murder-laden cases, Isla takes us in a different, yet still crime-ridden, direction: the audacious world of rare book forgery.
We look at the incredible true story of Thomas James Wise, the celebrated 19th-century bibliophile who fooled collectors, museums, and even the British Museum itself. For decades, Wise posed as a gentleman scholar, building a reputation as England’s foremost rare book expert - while secretly forging first editions, inventing non-existent pamphlets, and even tearing pages out of priceless library books to perfect his scams.
Plus: Dee and Isla take a detour into book-world quirks (yes, vellum, watermarks, and antique quiz questions all make an appearance), and wrap up with a themed Ink-quisition featuring author Claire Wilson’s Stephen King tattoo tribute.
This one proves that true crime doesn’t always need murder to shock and intrigue.
👉 Listen now on all podcast platforms, YouTube, or via our website.SOURCES:
The Book Forger by Joseph Hone
Wikipedia
University of Oregon Book Blogs
United States
