The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 51, December 22, 2002, Article 8

QUICK QUIZ: KENNETH RENDELL

Boston document dealer Kenneth Rendell is a key figure
in the Hofmann story. We haven't had an E-Sylum quiz
in some time, so here goes: What is Rendell's connection
to numismatics?

Here's his connection to Hofmann: As a nationally known
expert in autographs and rare documents, Rendell was one
of the experts asked to authenticate some documents which
turned out to be forgeries. Hoffmann had a number of
dealings directly with Rendell before the truth of his deception
was revealed.

Hoffmann enticed investors with stories of fabulous collections
he was negotiating to buy. [From Duncan's Article:]
"One collection Hofman was trying to acquire contained a
prized "piece of papyrus plucked from the bosom of an
Egyptian mummy." He phoned ... Rendell, asking if he had
any papyrus for sale. He did, and Rendell sold Hofmann a
piece measuring 9" by 24". Hofmann then cut this in two,
mounting one 4" by 9" piece between two sheets of plexiglass,
and gave it to Steve Christensen -- who expected to buy the
collection for the Church of Latter Day Saints for a price of
$185,000.

Christensen knew nothing of papyrus, so to check if it was
genuine, he sought the advice of an expert -- who turned out
to be Kenneth Rendell.

When Mark Hofmann learned that Rendell was flying from
Boston to Salt Lake City to meet Christensen, he realized
there was a very big chance of exposure -- and he saw only
one way out."

Hofmann decided to kill Christensen. He built and delivered
pipe bombs to Christensen and his business partner Gary
Sheets, in an attempt to make it look like the bombs were
related to a business transaction, and draw attention away
from Christensen's church dealings. The first bomb killed
Christensen, and the second bomb killed Sheets' wife. A
third bomb went off prematurely, severely injuring Hofmann
before he could deliver it. His schemes quickly unraveled.
Hofmann is still in jail, but some of his expert forgeries may
lie undetected today.

Another book on Hofman is online, and it has more on
Rendell and pictures the above-mentioned papyrus
document. http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/trackingch3.htm

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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