Psalmanazar the Formosan fraud
BOUND in contemporary panelled calf, a 1704 first of An Historical & Geographical Description of Formosa..., the two folding engraved plates (of 16 in all) torn but skilfully repaired, realised £600 in a Lawrences of Crewkerne sale of July 6.
This notorious travellers’ tale was concocted by George Psalmanazar (1679?-1763), the name (derived …