[Fortsas Hoax] [Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain] Large Archive, Including Signed Letters and Original Publications

Including:

Bogeng, Gustav Adolf Erich
Jahrbuch fur Bucher-Kunde und-Liebhaberei.
Berlin: Max Harrwitz, 1912. Contemporary quarter vellum. LIMITED EDITION, number 634 of 800 copies.

Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain
Dissertatio Inauguralis Juridica de Qualitatibus et Conditionibus.
[Leuven]: G. Cuelens, 1824. Later full morocco gilt, all edges gilt, slipcase. --

[Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain].
Annulaire agathopédique et saucial Imprimé par les presses iconographiques à la Congrève de l'ordre des Agath. Cycle IV.
Brussels: A. Labroue et Compagnie, 1849. Contemporary half calf.

Deman, Edmond.
Catalogue des Livres Rares et Curieux Composant la Bibliotheque de feu M. Renier Chalon.
Brussels, 1890. Modern half morocco.

Societe des Bibliophiles Belges Seant a Mons.
Mons: Leon Dequesne, 1912. Contemporary full calf with spine in 6 compartments, 5 raised bands, top edge gilt.

Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain
Archive of materials addressed or belonging to Renier Chalon
Including: a certificate awarded to Chalon by the Congres International des Orientalistes in 1873, a certificate from the Ministre de l'Instruction Publique et des Beaux-Arts dated 8 May 1880 with accompanying letter of congratulations and original envelope with seal intact, a group of three copper plates depicting medals struck in Chalon's honor, and an attendance token to the 1904 Royal Numismatic Society meeting bearing Chalon's image and designed by Auguste Michaux.

The present collection relates to the life and work of Renier Chalon, a Belgian numismatist, collector, and archivist who in 1840 became infamous for perpetrating the Fortsas Hoax, a prank which saw numerous booksellers, librarians, and rare book collectors from throughout Europe descend on the town of Binche, Belgium, to bid on a collection of books of which it was believed only one existed; it was later revealed that this was an elaborate prank perpetrated by Chalon. He would later help to found the Society of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Hainaut and the Belgian Numismatic Society.

Property from the Estate of Peter Fortsas

This lot is located in Chicago.

[Fortsas Hoax] [Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain] Large Archive, Including Signed Letters and Original Publications

[Fortsas Hoax] [Chalon, Renier Hubert Ghislain] Large Archive, Including Signed Letters and Original Publications