The Master Forger: The Story of Han Von Meegeren

First edition, first printing.  222pp.  Mid blue publisher’s cloth-covered boards, gilt-stamped lettering on the spine. 12mo.  Cloth is faded and mildly marked, rubbed and rounded on corners and spine.  Slightly softened.  Previous owner’s name inked on front free endpaper, dated 1951.  A little foxing on endpapers else internally neat, clean and tight.

Van Meergenen (1889-1947) was a Dutch artist noted for his portraiture but perhaps best remembered as one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century.  He became a national hero during the Second World War when it became known that he had sold forged art works – including one attributed to Vermeer –  to Hermann Goring during the Nazi occupation of Holland, but he was also prosecuted for his activities and died in prison.