The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-11-16
Literary Iioaxing.
WRITTEN roa the HAWAIIAN eAzE1rE:


The last two numbers Of Haper's Magazine
as received.j in Honolulu, namely, those for 0cto-
Der and November 1870, contain sketch enti-
tied Literary Forgeries, which The semi annual
index attached to the November number, states
is translation " from the French With all
due respect for the translator. Miss Kate p 0s-
good. and for the French author, whose. name is
not given. woald like to tell the story OF one
remarkable literary deception which may have
escaped the memories Of both author aud trans
lator of the paper 10 Hgpers Magazine 1t is
funny, of course, for Honolulu to prompt Paris,
but still. in this case, il can be done.
Ever since Rabeais' famous catalogue Of the
choice books in the library of Saint Victor,
book 2. chapter ~ photography has had its hu-
morous side, its hoaxes and its sarcasms. no less
amusing to the uninitiated, and requiring no
more explanation to make them Ineligible, than
tbs professional jokes of the lawyer and the ply
stefan. Nor can it be objected TO photographed
jokes that they tend more to what are technically
termed F'aceti9, than the other learned and hon
orable professions just alluded to- At all events,
the well-read photographer wants to know about
them /; and the general reader can hardly fail to
feel some interestin their history. Perhaps the
most elaborate practical joke of this kind that
ever occurred. and yet which, strange to say
without any historical record besides the article
Lam now writing. is the lie about the library Of
the Count of Fortsas. l flasfl
10 the year 1910, the book-colectors in Europe
were greatly excited by the publication Of the
sale-cstalogue of the library the absolutely unique
library, of the Count j. n. A. re Fortsas. But
one hundred copies Of this catalogue were ever
printed. and of the hundred l have one, value,
Of course high and replaceability Gf there is
such word) simply impossible. .a.aoe ai
This little Volume Of only fourteen pages, con
tains list Of the books which formed the
Counts collection There we're only ifty-two,
but each of them UNIQUE The Count would
Deyer keep book in his library which he found
mentioned by any photographer No wonder the
photographed world was excited. i'aa $50
The sale was to take place at the Office Of
notary in Binche. an Insignificant village of Bel
GUM. Ii is said that Brunei. Nodier Techener.
Renouard, and other bibliophiles OF Paris met in
the diligence, each one having hoped TO steal
away unnoticed and have the game all to himself
N. Castan. Of Lille who was greatly interested
in the treasures of this sale-paricularlarly IN
book numbered in the catalouge. l42' relating
- the Belgian revolution of 1880, book pub
lished by Casteman, of Tourney the entire edition
Of which had been suppressed except this one
copy-took the precaution, as he was passing
through Tourney, 10 make some inquiries about
the book. and to call on the Publisher. NJ. Caste
man had forgotten it, but his foreman ramsm-
bered it perfectly, and also its author, NJ Charles
Lecocq. Just exactly as three old naval officers
told me abOn, remembering Edward Hales purely
fictitious character of the onteast Nolan, in the
story Of Is A Man without Country" 4fl
The Baron Won Reiffenberg. then the Director
Of the Royal Library of Brussels, asked his tiuv
ernment for an appropriation to buy some Of
these treasures. which was granted; emitting
from his hist numbers IL, 30, 46. IS, SO. 100 and 1
l67. as ruther too free for public library One
enthusiastic bookseller made the Journey 70
Birche from Amsterdam. only toAoek at number
10. g Corpus Juris Gvills" printed by the Elze-
virs, on velum. And the Princess de Hgne,
ANXIOUS 10 destroy the printed record of her an
cestor's achievements and TO protect the reputa-
ton of the grandmothers Of the best families in
France, wrote TO NJ. VOisin to buy number as at
ing price Asshe says AcIietszi je yous en-
;onure tout prix les sottises De Dotre pollissoh
lie grand-pere-H Rather rough on her grand-
ather, bat fuIIy Justified even by The Published
'ecerds Of the venerable old rascal. who lived his
'coundIelly life through. rs Heaven saFe the
mark y the Prince de Lgnes sf-isq-g Il
Then. there was the then famous Rexburrhe
Climb of hihliophiies- 1t sent messengers. SIN
,ulariy enough, every book 10 Hthe catalogue
lppealed directly add With peculiar forceio the
aste Of some distinguished collector and each
Inc of these was the possessori Of catalogue
through the mail.a sdfe iFe sfaiisi tas iesdl
I pause moment here to state that rns own
'opy. and my andsniable authority for my record
4 The facts 10 the affair, are both derived from
he same PsrsOn.-kr Edward tHowIand. Of
Sew Bedford.