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A page from a typed book with the lettering squiggled out in pen with a handwritten note in Latin.
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John M. Olin Library, Level 1, Newman Tower of Collections and Exploration

Fakes, Forgeries, and Forbidden Books

When people think of crime, they rarely think of someone hunched over, carefully reproducing ink, paper, and images to replicate a book. The word piracy brings to mind swashbuckling on the high seas, not printing books without permission. Though most people are aware of book banning, they are unaware of how far back in history censorship goes and the many forms it can take. The exhibition explores counterfeit money, as well as different aspects of book crimes and censorship.

The Fakes, Forgeries, and Forbidden Books exhibition was organized by the Curator of Rare Books Cassie Brand and Project Coordinator Len Augsburger.