Detecting Forgery: Forensic Investigation of Documents [Hardcover]

Joe Nickell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1996

" Detecting Forgery reveals the complete arsenal of forensic techniques used to detect forged handwriting and alterations in documents and to identify the authorship of disputed writings. Joe Nickell looks at famous cases such as Clifford Irving's ""autobiography"" of Howard Hughes and the Mormon papers of document dealer Mark Hoffman, as well as cases involving works of art. Detecting Forgery is a fascinating introduction to the growing field of forensic document examination and forgery detection.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Seldom does a book about forgery come along containing depth of subject matter in addition to presenting clear and understandable information. This book has both, plus a readability that is accessible to those studying questioned documents as well as seasoned experts." -- Journal of Forensic Identification

"The author's expertise in historical documents is unmistakably evident throughout the book. Once I began reading, I found it hard to put down." -- Journal of Questioned Document Examination

"Guides the reader through various methods and techniques of identifying fakes and phone manuscripts." -- Manchester (KY) Enterprise

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), writes the "Investigative Files" column for Skeptical Inquirer magazine. He is a frequent guest on television shows including Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Jerry Springer Show, Unsolved Mysteries, Politically Incorrect, Dateline NBC, 20/20, 48 Hours, Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, and many more. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813119537
• ISBN-13: 978-0813119533
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,814,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joe Nickell has been called "the modern Sherlock Holmes." Since 1995 he has been the world's only full-time, professional, science-based paranormal investigator. His careful, often innovative investigations have won him international respect in a field charged with controversy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wants to be deep but is not, June 20, 2000

By 

Gary Herbertson (Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Detecting Forgery: Forensic Investigation of Documents (Hardcover)

Joe Nickell is an excellent researcher and has found many interesting aspects of document examination to write about. He is not, however, a document examiner. As a result he includes an interesting history but he only mentions the new techniques. The book is recommended for those who want to know what goes on in the broad field of forensic document examination but is far short of being a guide for detecting forgery.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detecting Forgery, November 30, 1999

By 

"coddde3" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Detecting Forgery: Forensic Investigation of Documents (Hardcover)

This book is a fairly in depth study into the history and current practice of forensic study of written materials. It is a bit broad for modern use of law enforcement investigations but has some good information. For the price and information provided it's a good investment.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starting point - signed, William Shakespeare, June 5, 2001

By 

Kilgore Gagarin "Those who believe in telekin... (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Detecting Forgery: Forensic Investigation of Documents (Hardcover)

I agree with the other two reviewers that this work is not a comprehensive treatise on the subject of detecting forgery. However, it does give beginners (like me) a good place to start. It is clearly written and broad (if not deep) in coverage. I would call this book "workmanlike" and "solid." If I were a writer of mystery novels, this would be a good reference for this area of criminal(?) activity. The small section on the autopen especially intrigued me (hint: don't buy John F. Kennedy autographed documents). The bibliography in the back is its greatest asset if you want to pursue the topic of forgery to a deeper level. Our interlibrary loan people are going to be hustling for years as I track down some of the sources Nickell cites in this book.