The Map Thief Read online

  Also by Michael Blanding

  THE COKE MACHINE

  GOTHAM BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group

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  Frontispiece and figures 2, 8, and 12 original illustrations by Jelmer Noordeman and Koen Harmsma, Bier en Brood. Figures 1, 18, A, and C courtesy of Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Figure 3 courtesy of Bedford Historical Society. Figures 4 and 5 courtesy of Library of Congress, g3200 ct000725C. Figures 6, 10, E, G, and L map reproduction courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library. Figure 7 courtesy of Library of Congress, g3710 070900. Figure 9 from Recollections of Sebec, Maine: Stories Across Two Generations by Shirley Nason Wright, courtesy of Shirley Nason Wright. Figure 11 courtesy of Library of Congress, g3710 ct003573a. Figure 13 courtesy of the Library of Virginia. Figure 14 courtesy of Library of Congress, g3700 ct000675. Figure 15 courtesy of Library of Congress, France in America collection. Figure 16 courtesy of the author. Figures 17, B, H, and N courtesy of Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc., www.raremaps.com. Figure D from Wikimedia Commons. Figure F courtesy of Library of Congress, g3200 ct000270. Figure I courtesy of Sterling Memorial Library Map Collection, Yale University Library. Figure J courtesy of Library of Congress, g3300 ct000232. Figure K courtesy of Library of Congress, g3700 ct000666. Figure M courtesy of Kris Butler and Shipyard Brewery. Figure O courtesy of Connecticut State’s Attorney, New Haven Judicial District. Figure P AP Photo/Fred Beckham.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  has been applied for.

  ISBN 978-0-698-15698-2

  While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Version_1

  SMILEY’S NEW ENGLAND.

  To Zachary and Cleo

  May you always find your way.

  Contents

  Also by Michael Blanding

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Frontispiece

  Dedication

  List of Characters

  Selected Mapmakers, 1470–1860

  Epigraph

  INTRODUCTION

  Chapter 1 THE EXPLORER AND THE THIEF

  Chapter 2 SMALL HOPE

  Chapter 3 A NEW WORLD

  Chapter 4 WHO KNOWS THE MOST WINS

  Chapter 5 CATALOG NUMBER ONE

  Chapter 6 PLAYING HARDBALL

  Chapter 7 UPWARD DEPARTURE

  Chapter 8 THE BATTLE OF SEBEC

  Chapter 9 MISSING MAPS, MISSING CARDS

  Chapter 10 CAUGHT!

  Chapter 11 THE PLEA

  Chapter 12 MAP QUEST

  Chapter 13 TERRA INCOGNITA

  EPILOGUE

  Photographs

  Appendix A: Maps Smiley Admitted Stealing

  Appendix B: Additional Maps Libraries Reported Missing

  Acknowledgments

  Bibliography

  Notes

  Index

  List of Characters

  ALL TITLES AS OF JUNE 2005, unless otherwise noted.

  The Dealers

  MARTHA’S VINEYARD

  Edward Forbes Smiley III

  NEW YORK

  B. Altman and Co. (closed 1985)

  Rosejeanne Slifer (d. 1989)

  Arader Galleries

  Graham Arader

  The Old Print Shop

  Harry Newman

  Robert Newman

  Richard B. Arkway, Inc.

  Dick Arkway

  Paul Cohen

  Henry Taliaferro

  NEW HAVEN

  Bill Reese

  LONDON

  Philip Burden

  Ashley Baynton-Williams

  Jonathan Potter

  R.V. “Mick” Tooley (d. 1986)

  CHICAGO

  Ken Nebenzahl

  SAN DIEGO

  Barry Ruderman

  The Libraries

  YALE UNIVERSITY

  Alice Prochaska, head of libraries

  Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

  Frank Turner, director

  E.C. Schroeder, head of technical services

  Ellen Cordes, head of public services

  Naomi Saito, library services assistant

  Ralph Mannarino, supervisor of building operations and security

  Sterling Memorial Library Map Collection

  Fred Musto, curator

  Margit Kaye, library services assistant

  Abe Parrish, GIS specialist

  Yale Police Department

  Martin Buonfiglio, detective

  Bill Holohan, lieutenant

  NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

  Paul LeClerc, president

  David Ferriero, director of the research libraries

  Bill Walker, former director of the research libraries

  Map Division

  Alice Hudson, chief

  Matt Knudsen, assistant chief

  Nancy Kandoian, map cataloger

  Rare Book Division

  Michael Inman, curator

  BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

  Bernard Margolis, president

  Norman B. Leventhal Map Center

  Ron Grim, curator

  Rare Books Department

  Earle Havens, curator of manuscripts

  Roberta Zonghi, keeper of rare books

  HARVARD UNIVERSITY

  Nancy Cline, head of libraries

  Houghton Library

  Bill Stoneman, librarian

  Map Collection

  David Cobb, curator

  BRITISH LIBRARY

  Clive Field, director of scholarship and collections

  Map Library

  Peter Barber, director

  Tony Campbell, former director (retired)

  NEWBERRY LIBRARY

  Charles Cullen, president

  Maps Section

  Bob Karrow, curator

  Collectors

  Norman Leventhal (Boston)

  Lawrence Slaughter (Larchmont, New York)

  Harold Osher (Portland, Maine)

  Barry McLean (Chicago)

  Bob Gordon (New York)

  Jim Curtis (Boston)

  Smiley’s Family and Friends

  FAMILY

  Edward Forbes Smiley II, father

  Adele Smiley, mother

  Edward “Ned” Forbes Smil
ey IV, son

  Marion Smiley, sister

  Marilyn (Smiley) Phillips, sister

  Susan (Smiley) Burns, twin sister

  Lisa Smiley, wife

  DERRYFIELD SCHOOL

  Paul Statt

  Hilary Chaplain

  HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

  Scott Slater

  Bennett Fischer

  Scott Haas

  Fred Melamed

  Dick Cantwell

  OTHER

  Bob von Elgg, Slater’s brother-in-law

  In Sebec

  Glen Fariel, next-door neighbor, former selectman

  David Mallett, president, Sebec Historical Society

  Jayne Lello, manager, Sebec post office

  Bill and Charlene Moriarty, owners, Sebec Village Marina

  Buzz Small, selectman

  Susan Dow, selectman

  Walt Emmons, member, planning department

  Louisa Finnemore, president, Sebec Reading Room Association (now Sebec Village Associates)

  The Law

  Stephen Kelleher, special agent, New Haven field office, FBI

  Christopher “Kit” Schmeisser, assistant US attorney

  Janet Bond Arterton, judge, US Court, District of Southern Connecticut

  Michael Dearington, state’s attorney, state of Connecticut

  Richard Damiani, judge, Connecticut District Court

  Bob Goldman, former special trial attorney, US Justice Department, now managing partner, Goldman Law Offices

  SELECTED MAPMAKERS, 1470–1860

  Name

  Nationality

  Dates*

  Martin Waldseemüller

  German

  1470–1520

  Hernán Cortés

  Spanish

  1485–1547

  Oronce Fine

  French

  1494–1555

  Peter Apian

  German

  1495–1552

  Gerard de Jode

  Flemish

  1509–1591

  Gerard Mercator

  Flemish

  1509–1591

  Abraham Ortelius

  Flemish

  1527–1598

  Theodor de Bry

  Flemish

  1528–1598

  Robert Dudley

  English

  1531–1588

  Jacques Le Moyne

  French

  1533–1588

  John White

  English

  1540–1593

  John Speed

  English

  1542–1629

  Richard Hakluyt

  English

  1552–1616

  George Best

  English

  1555–1584

  Edward Wright

  English

  1561–1615

  Henry Briggs

  English

  1561–1630

  Jodocus Hondius

  Flemish

  1563–1612

  William Alexander

  English

  1567–1640

  Cornelius de Jode

  Dutch

  1568–1600

  Willem Blaeu

  Dutch

  1571–1638

  Samuel de Champlain

  French

  1574–1635

  John Smith

  English

  1580–1631

  William Wood

  English

  1580–1639

  Luke Foxe

  English

  1586–1635

  Hendrik Hondius

  Dutch

  1587–1651

  Jan Jansson

  Dutch

  1588–1664

  Jodocus Hondius II

  Dutch

  1593–1629

  Joan Blaeu

  Dutch

  1596–1673

  Nicolas Sanson

  French

  1600–1667

  John Ogilby

  English

  1600–1676

  Cornelius Blaeu

  Dutch

  1616–1648

  Claude Dablon

  French

  1618–1697

  Claude Allouez

  French

  1622–1689

  Thomas Holme

  English

  1624–1695

  Hendrick Doncker

  Dutch

  1626–1699

  John Seller

  English

  1630–1697

  William Berry

  English

  1639–1718

  John Thornton

  English

  1641–1708

  John Bonner

  English

  1643–1726

  John Foster

  English

  1648–1681

  Herman Moll

  English

  1654–1732

  Robert Morden

  English

  1668–1703

  Guillaume De L’Isle

  French

  1675–1726

  Joshua Fry

  English

  1699–1754

  Lewis Evans

  English

  1700–1756

  Peter Jefferson

  American

 
; 1708–1757

  Thomas Jefferys

  English

  1710–1771

  Joseph F.W. Des Barres

  English

  1721–1824

  William Scull

  American

  1739–1784

  Thomas Jefferson

  American

  1743–1826

  Reading Howell

  English

  1743–1827

  Henry Pelham

  American

  1748–1806

  John Norman

  American

  1748–1817

  James Madison

  American

  1749–1812

  William Faden

  English

  1750–1836

  Andrew Ellicott

  American

  1754–1820

  John Collet

  English

  1756–1789

  William Norman

  American

  1770–1807

  John Melish

  Scottish

  1771–1822