![["FORTSAS SALE".] Emmanuel HOYOIS. Documents et particularités historiques sur le catalogue du comte de Fortsas. Mons: Emm. Hoyois, 1857.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/NYR/2006_NYR_01769_0525_000(122645).jpg?w=1)
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["FORTSAS SALE".] Emmanuel HOYOIS. Documents et particularités historiques sur le catalogue du comte de Fortsas. Mons: Emm. Hoyois, 1857.
Large 8o (268 x 180 mm). Blue-paper issue. Wood-engraved title-vignette and illustrations. Near-contemporary French green half morocco, marbled boards, by Monneret.
FIRST EDITION. The principal source for our knowledge of the preparation, perpetration and aftermath of the hoax. Chalon more or less successfully prevented Hoyois from reprinting the Fortsas catalogue, but could do nothing about the publication of Hoyois' background story and the documents in his possession (including correspondence with collectors and commission bids).
[Bound with:] [Renier-Hubert-Ghislain CHALON (1802-1889).] Catalogue d'une très-riche mais peu nombreuse collection de livres provenant de la bibliothèque de feu Mr. le Comte J.-N.-A. de Fortsas, dont la vente se fera á Binche, le 10 août 1840, à onze heures du matin, en l'étude et par le ministère de Me. Mourlon, Notaire, rue de l'Eglise, no.9. Mons: Emmanuel Hoyois, [not before 10 August 1840]. 8o. 8 leaves. A counterfeit edition of the Fortsas sale catalogue, the most successful and famous hoax in book collecting history. It was at the same time an insider's joke, as the 52 "unique" books offered in the sale were each clearly aimed to appeal to one or more well-known specialized Belgian collectors (and a few Parisians). The success and notoriety of the hoax created great demand for the catalogues among the curious and those who had not been privileged enough to be targeted as victim. It is likely but not certain that it was issued by Hoyois (the typographical material is different).
Large 8
FIRST EDITION. The principal source for our knowledge of the preparation, perpetration and aftermath of the hoax. Chalon more or less successfully prevented Hoyois from reprinting the Fortsas catalogue, but could do nothing about the publication of Hoyois' background story and the documents in his possession (including correspondence with collectors and commission bids).
[Bound with:] [Renier-Hubert-Ghislain CHALON (1802-1889).] Catalogue d'une très-riche mais peu nombreuse collection de livres provenant de la bibliothèque de feu Mr. le Comte J.-N.-A. de Fortsas, dont la vente se fera á Binche, le 10 août 1840, à onze heures du matin, en l'étude et par le ministère de Me. Mourlon, Notaire, rue de l'Eglise, no.9. Mons: Emmanuel Hoyois, [not before 10 August 1840]. 8