[MSN] FBI ALERT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Map Thefts by dealer Edward Forbes Smiley III

[msn-list at te.verweg.com]

FBI ALERT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
July 7, 2005

(Originally posten at Exlibris)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has requested that this Alert/Request
for Information be posted on this listserve.

On Wednesday, June 8, 2005, an individual identified as Edward Forbes Smiley
III, age 49, of, among other places, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, was
arrested by local authorities in Connecticut for the alleged theft of a map
from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New
Haven, Connecticut, USA.  The map allegedly stolen was the New England map
from John Smith's Advertisements for the unexperienced planters of
New-England ? (London, Printed by I. Haviland?
1631.)

Smiley is alleged to have visited the reading room at the Beinecke Library
on June 8, where he allegedly surreptitiously cut the above-described map
from the volume.  There were allegedly additional maps found in Smiley's
possession that appear to have been stolen from the Beinecke Library, as
well as several additional maps whose previous owner remains unidentified.
In the aftermath of the arrest, the FBI has been in contact with certain
other rare book libraries and learned that those institutions are finding
rare maps missing from volumes that Smiley had viewed.
The FBI requests that institutions holding rare maps in their collections
review their records and collections as soon as possible 1) to determine
whether Mr. Smiley reviewed books/maps in their possession and 2) to
determine whether any maps are believed missing.

The FBI requests that any information be provided to Special Agent Steve
Kelleher, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 600 State St., New Haven CT
06511; telephone (203) 503-5116.


More about Mr. Edward Forbes Smiley III


http://www.efsmaps.com/about.html
My name is Forbes Smiley. I work for collectors and institutions helping
them build interesting, and often important, collections of early maps and
atlases relating to the discovery and settlement of North America. Over the
past twenty five years I have operated offices at 16 East 79th Street, New
York, galleries at 175 East 57th Street, New York, and a private business on
Martha's Vineyard. During this time we have built several of the largest
collections of American cartographic materials in this country, including
the Norman Leventhal Collection of New England maps, and the Lawrence H.
Slaughter Collection of English maps and atlases - now at the New York
Public Library. 
My practice has always been to work closely with collectors and develop a
long term relationship - with the goals of identifying, acquiring and
organizing materials relevant to a region's cartographic history. Once a
relationship is established I work to protect the collector's interest, and
to assure that the finest copies of relevant maps and atlases are offered to
them as soon as they appear on the market, and at the lowest possible price.
This service includes negotiating on the collector's behalf, representing
them at auction, appraising material, as well as offering important maps and
atlases from our inventory. I am always glad to talk with collectors about
old maps, their experience with collecting, or plans for improving or
expanding their collections. 

We buy worldwide very aggressively, and sell very actively to dealers and
collectors. Individuals who are considering selling separate maps or entire
collections can rest assured we are able and willing to fetch them the
highest possible price for interesting material in good condition. 

We look forward to hearing from you soon: 

 E. FORBES SMILEY III
 243 Vineyard-Haven Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539
 Tel: (508) 645-3894 Email: info at efsmaps.com