KENNETH RENDELL Publique Deposited

QUICK QUIZ

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  • The E-Sylum: Volume 5, Number 51, December 22, 2002, Article 8

    QUICK QUIZ: KENNETH RENDELL

    Boston document dealer Kenneth Rendell is a key figure
    in the Hofmann story. We haven't had an E-Sylum quiz
    in some time, so here goes: What is Rendell's connection
    to numismatics?

    Here's his connection to Hofmann: As a nationally known
    expert in autographs and rare documents, Rendell was one
    of the experts asked to authenticate some documents which
    turned out to be forgeries. Hoffmann had a number of
    dealings directly with Rendell before the truth of his deception
    was revealed.

    Hoffmann enticed investors with stories of fabulous collections
    he was negotiating to buy. [From Duncan's Article:]
    "One collection Hofman was trying to acquire contained a
    prized "piece of papyrus plucked from the bosom of an
    Egyptian mummy." He phoned ... Rendell, asking if he had
    any papyrus for sale. He did, and Rendell sold Hofmann a
    piece measuring 9" by 24". Hofmann then cut this in two,
    mounting one 4" by 9" piece between two sheets of plexiglass,
    and gave it to Steve Christensen -- who expected to buy the
    collection for the Church of Latter Day Saints for a price of
    $185,000.

    Christensen knew nothing of papyrus, so to check if it was
    genuine, he sought the advice of an expert -- who turned out
    to be Kenneth Rendell.

    When Mark Hofmann learned that Rendell was flying from
    Boston to Salt Lake City to meet Christensen, he realized
    there was a very big chance of exposure -- and he saw only
    one way out."

    Hofmann decided to kill Christensen. He built and delivered
    pipe bombs to Christensen and his business partner Gary
    Sheets, in an attempt to make it look like the bombs were
    related to a business transaction, and draw attention away
    from Christensen's church dealings. The first bomb killed
    Christensen, and the second bomb killed Sheets' wife. A
    third bomb went off prematurely, severely injuring Hofmann
    before he could deliver it. His schemes quickly unraveled.
    Hofmann is still in jail, but some of his expert forgeries may
    lie undetected today.

    Another book on Hofman is online, and it has more on
    Rendell and pictures the above-mentioned papyrus
    document. http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/trackingch3.htm

URL source Date publiée
  • 2002-12-22
Volume
  • 5

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Auteur NNP