The Great Canadian Art Fraud Case

In May 2016, Jon S. Dellandrea acquired a box of the final effects of William Firth MacGregor, an obscure artist. The contents of the box revealed a significant and forgotten trial involving forgeries of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. The book takes readers back to 1962, a time when forgeries were appearing on gallery walls, auction houses, and in the homes of Canadian luminaries. Inspector James Erskine, with the help of A.J. Casson, the youngest living member of the Group of Seven, set out to discover the source of the forgeries. Dellandrea continues Erskine's hunt, uncovering the masterminds behind the forgeries and revealing the story of a talented artist whose career could have been different.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: Goose Lane Editions

In May 2016, Jon S. Dellandrea acquired a box containing the final remnants of an enigmatic artist named William Firth MacGregor. The contents of this box documented a significant and largely forgotten trial involving the forgery of renowned Canadian artists Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven.

The Great Canadian Art Fraud Case transports readers back to 1962, a period when counterfeit artworks were proliferating on gallery walls, auction houses, and even in the homes of prominent figures across Canada. Inspector James Erskine, with the assistance of A.J. Casson, the youngest surviving member of the Group of Seven, embarked on a mission to uncover the origins of these forgeries.

Fifty years later, Dellandrea continues Erskine's pursuit, unraveling the masterminds behind the counterfeit masterpieces. Lavishly illustrated with reproductions and archival images, The Great Canadian Art Fraud Case unveils the enigma of the most significant art fraud trial in Canadian history. Along the way, it also sheds light on the untold story of a talented artist whose career could have taken a vastly different trajectory.

Weight: 776g
Dimension: 260 x 195 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781773102535