Handwriting is unique to each individual, which is a fundamental principle of forensic handwriting comparisons. For this reason, even the most skillful forgeries often leave behind telltale signs that a trained Forensic Document Examiner can detect. The ability to identify forgeries has been instrumental in uncovering many significant historical document frauds. Keep reading to discover the fascinating stories behind five of the most famous document forgeries in history.
Comparing the Known to the Unknown
Many of the most notorious document forgeries in history were meticulously crafted, sometimes successfully deceiving people for years. While attention to detail can temporarily mask a forgery, skilled Forensic Document Examiners employ their training and advanced tools to detect fraudulent elements in questioned documents.
Famous Document Forgeries
The following five examples share a common theme: they were initially accepted as authentic due to the impressive craftsmanship of the forgers. However, each one was eventually exposed as a fraud.
#1: The Hitler Diaries
The Hitler Diaries remain one of the most famous modern-era document frauds. In 1983, the German magazine Stern announced that it had obtained diaries written by Adolf Hitler, which had been presumed lost. The entries in these diaries portrayed Hitler in a more sympathetic light, which drew widespread attention.
Stern claimed the diaries were recovered from a 1945 plane crash and had been hidden by a farmer for decades before they were revealed. However, forensic experts at the German Federal Archives quickly determined the diaries were forgeries. The true author was Konrad Kujau, a notorious forger who ended up in prison. Stern suffered considerable reputational damage as a result.
#2: The Mormon Forgeries
In the early 1980s, master forger Mark Hofmann sold several forged documents to leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These documents appeared to rewrite parts of Mormon history, leading church officials to believe they were authentic.
Hofmann’s forgery scheme unraveled when forensic document examiners, William Flynn and George Throckmorton, exposed the documents as fake. In a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, Hofmann murdered two people, but he was eventually caught and sentenced to life in prison.
#3: The Lincoln Love Letters
One of the more romantic document forgeries involved a supposed love affair between Abraham Lincoln and Anne Rutledge. In 1928, Wilma Minor claimed to possess letters between the two that proved their romantic involvement. The Atlantic Monthly published a selection of these letters in 1929, paying Minor for the supposed historical documents.
Critics immediately questioned the letters’ authenticity, and the magazine hired a Forensic Document Examiner, who quickly determined the letters were fraudulent.
#4: The Shakespeare Forgeries
William-Henry Ireland’s forgeries of William Shakespeare’s works are an example of forgery for attention rather than profit. In 1795, Ireland claimed to have discovered letters and plays written by Shakespeare. His father, a well-known collector, believed the documents were genuine, and soon, many Shakespeare enthusiasts accepted them as authentic.
However, after the documents were published, suspicions arose. Once experts scrutinized them, it became clear that the writings were fraudulent, and Ireland eventually confessed.
#5: Adolfo Kaminsky’s Forgeries for a Cause
Not all forgeries are malicious. During World War II, Adolfo Kaminsky, a Jewish teenager in Nazi-occupied France, used his knowledge of chemicals to forge documents that saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust.
Kaminsky’s ability to alter and reproduce vital documents such as identification papers, birth certificates, and ration cards helped people escape persecution. His forgeries, while illegal, were a lifeline for those trapped in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Final Thoughts
These notable examples of document forgeries illustrate the lengths to which some individuals will go to deceive others. Fortunately, forensic document examiners play a crucial role in identifying forgeries and establishing the authenticity of documents.
If you need assistance verifying a document, contact the office of James A. Green, a Forensic Document Examiner with extensive experience working with individuals, corporations, and government organizations. Reach out today for help with your case.