Forging the First President.

The article discusses the history of the profitable illegal business of forging the signature of former U.S. President George Washington. Documents disingenuously said to be owned or written by Washington, such as books and letters, were purchased by various collectors at high prices. Emphasis is given to the forging work of bookseller Robert Spring and forger Joseph Cosey. The presence of forgeries in the modern-day historical manuscripts trade is also discussed.