Film Lens
The film focuses on E. Forbes Smiley III, a map dealer who stole over 70 maps from institutions like the New York Public Library. It examines how Smiley's actions betrayed the trust of libraries and archives, damaging cultural heritage and future scholarship. The documentary presents a detailed account of the rare-map world and the consequences of Smiley's criminal activities.
Through interviews and discussions, the film illustrates the impact of map theft on institutions and the individuals who rely on them. It shows a specific case of a map that was stolen twice from Yale, emphasizing the ongoing issues of theft in the rare-map community. The narrative provides insights into the motivations behind such crimes and their repercussions on cultural history.
Why Watch
- •Meet E. Forbes Smiley, the notorious map thief.
- •Find out how map theft affects cultural heritage.
- •See the consequences of betrayal in libraries.
Did You Know
•E. Forbes Smiley III stole over 70 maps from the New York Public Library.
•One map was stolen twice from Yale, first in the '70s and then by Smiley.
•David Ferriero was the Director of Libraries at the New York Public Library during Smiley's thefts.
•Smiley colored a rare map and displayed it on his website, claiming it was a different version.
Perfect For
Rare map enthusiastsLibrary and archive professionalsTrue crime fans