Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$160.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 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: Meir Turner, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Rosenwald, Lessing J.. The Fortsas Catalogue. Philobiblon Club, North Hills, PA, 1970.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The Fortsas Catalogue. A Facsimile, with an Introduction by Lessing J. Rosenwald. Printed for the Philobiblon Club by the Bird & Bull Press, North Hills, PA, 1970. [10ff.] + [4]12pp. pamphlet. One of an edition of 250 copies. The story of a French literary hoax in 1840. Facsimiles of the "Avis" (the announcement that the sale would not take place) and a three-page article on the collection are tipped-in. An 8-page facsimile of the catalogue of the supposed sale is in a pocket on the rear paste-down. INSCRIBED BY LESSING J. ROSENWALD: "FOR EUNICE, WITH LOVE, LESSING, 8/19/72." Some toning to the inner hinges from binder's glue, tiny spot of rubbing to one corner, else fine, in cloth-backed marbled boards.
Seller: Bryn Mawr Bookstore, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$247.50 + shipping
Description: Limited to 250 copies of which this is no. 50. Slim quarto (30.5cm.); original brown cloth-backed marbled boards, spine lettered in black; 13pp.; 4 mounted facsimile plates; staplebound facsimile catalogue laid into chemise mounted inside rear cover. Fine. Facsimile of the hoax auction catalogue issued in 1840, organized by Belgian bibliophile Renier Chalon.
Seller: Lorne Bair Rare Books, ABAA, Winchester, VA, U.S.A.
Price: US$270.00 + shipping
Description: 4to. cloth spine, marbled paper over boards. 19 pages with a 16-page 8vo. facsimile of the original Fortsas Catalogue in a pocket in the inside rear cover. One of 250 numbered copies (Taylor B2). This book was designed and printed by Henry Morris of the Bird & Bull Press. The "Avis" and the text of M. Polain's newspaper account of the hoax are reproduced in facsimile and tipped-in. An important addition to the literature connected to this famous auction hoax. Fine condition. cloth spine, marbled paper over boards
Seller: Oak Knoll Books, ABAA, ILAB, NEW CASTLE, DE, U.S.A.
Price: US$287.50 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 9-1/2 by 12 inches. 13 pages plus catalogue facsimile in pocket at rear board. Cloth spine with marbled paper boards. Typical slight discoloration in gutters which continues into text, but fades as it gets away from boards, appears to be offset from glue in binding. Otherwise in excellent condition. Neat previous owner's inscription on front free end paper. Number 56 of the 160 copies printed for members of the Philobiblon Club on handmade paper (from a total edition of 250 copies). A fabulous story of one of the world's great biblio hoaxes. Neat inscription on front pastedown from Mort Whitehead to Robert K. Johnson.
Seller: Thorn Books, ABAA, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
. Fortsas Catalogue. A Facsimile, with an Introduction by Lessing J.. , 1970.
Price: US$330.00 + shipping
Description: (FORTSAS HOAX). The Fortsas Catalogue. A Facsimile, With an Introduction by Lessing J. Rosenwald. 4to. Original cloth-backed boards. North Hills: Printed for the Philobiblon Club by the Bird and Bull Press, 1970. First edition. Limited to 250 numbered copies.
Seller: G.S. MacManus Co., ABAA, Bryn Mawr, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Description: No. 204 of 250 copies. 4 facsimile pages tipped in. 1 vols. Thin 4to. Half brown cloth, marbled boards. Fine. Laid into rear pocket is a facsimile of the original catalogue 4 facsimile pages tipped in. 1 vols. Thin 4to
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.