000			02641n a2200253 i 4500
001			037186
005			20231009193457.0
008			140923s2014 nyu b 001 0 eng
010			_a2014005305
020			_a9781592408177
042			_apcc
050	0	0	_aZ286.M3 _bB53 2014
082	0	0	_a364.16 BLA
100	1		_aBlanding, Michael
245	1	4	_aThe map thief _b: the gripping story of an esteemed rare-map dealer who made millions stealing priceless maps _c/ Michael Blanding.
300			_a300 p _c; 23 cm
504			_aIncludes bibliographical references and index.
520			_a"The story of an infamous crime, a revered map dealer with an unsavory secret, and the ruthless subculture that consumed him. Maps have long exerted a special fascination on viewers--both as beautiful works of art and as practical tools to navigate the world. But to those who collect them, the map trade can be a cutthroat business, inhabited by quirky and sometimes disreputable characters in search of a finite number of extremely rare objects. Once considered a respectable antiquarian map dealer, E. Forbes Smiley spent years doubling as a map thief --until he was finally arrested slipping maps out of books in the Yale University library. The Map Thief delves into the untold history of this fascinating high-stakes criminal and the inside story of the industry that consumed him. Acclaimed reporter Michael Blanding has interviewed all the key players in this stranger-than-fiction story, and shares the fascinating histories of maps that charted the New World, and how they went from being practical instruments to quirky heirlooms to highly coveted objects. Though pieces of the map theft story have been written before, Blanding is the first reporter to explore the story in full--and had the rare privilege of having access to Smiley himself after he'd gone silent in the wake of his crimes. Moreover, although Smiley swears he has admitted to all of the maps he stole, libraries claim he stole hundreds more--and offer intriguing clues to prove it. Now, through a series of exclusive interviews with Smiley and other key individuals, Blanding teases out an astonishing tale of destruction and redemption. The Map Thief interweaves Smiley's escapades with the stories of the explorers and mapmakers he knew better than anyone. Blanding has pieced together an unforgettable story of high-stakes crime. "-- _cProvided by publisher.
600	1	0	_aSmiley, E. Forbes
650		0	_aMap thefts _z--United States _x--History _y--20th century.
650		0	_aBook thefts
650		4	_aCriminals _x--United States -- Biography.
942			_cMO
999			_c272837 _d272837