THREAD: Photographs of Victorian Britain’s most famous #forger, Edward #Simpson, aka #Flint #Jack (c.1815-c.1874). There are few early images, but this one shows him as an itinerant #fossil and #antiquities dealer, holding a flint handaxe and arrowhead. Image: @ntlmuseumsScot 1/

2/ This image is not dated or annotated but it may be one recorded as being taken in Devizes, Wiltshire in 1854. Versions with differing poses exist. Images @ntlmuseumsscot & @YorkMuseumTrust

3/ Flint Jack sold his forgeries across the country but was exposed in 1859. His notoriety was guaranteed following a #knapping demonstration to @geolsoc in London on 7th January 1862. This undated image he shows Jack holding a hammer and a battle axe. MAA @CamUnivMuseums

4/ The most iconic image Flint Jack was taken by Mr Treble in 1863 at Joseph Stevens’ home in Salisbury. Stevens commissioned numerous artefacts for the Blackmore Museum, published in ‘Flint Chips’, 1870. Image: @Pitt_Rivers

5/ Again, slightly different versions of the image exist. Jack’s torn clothes show his life has taken a downward turn and 1863 saw the first of many stints in goal for petty crimes

6/ In 1867, Flint Jack was imprisoned for 12 months in Bedford Goal for the theft of a Barometer. A portrait was taken while incarcerated (possibly the one below). A fund for his rehabilitation was set up by no less than #Charles #Dickens and #Lewellyn #Jewitt. @WhitbyMuseum

7/ In 1869, Jack’s rehab was shortlived and following a stint Northallerton Goal for stealing a fossil while ‘superannuated with drink’, he was photographed at Stamford (? the image below). Image: @Pitt_Rivers

8/ in the 1870s Jack made an living selling ‘dooplicates’ and demonstrating #knapping, but was arrested in Malton as ‘rogue and vagabond’. Alfred C. Elliott took a ferrotype in Jun 1872 at Stamford, which he sold for a shilling a piece (possibly this image?). @yorkmuseumtrust

9/ The last known image of Flint Jack was taken at Newark in 1873 and published by Thomas Shepherd in 1908. In February 1874 Jack disappears from the public gaze and is never heard of again.

10/ Other images of Flint Jack not doubt exist and I’d love to see them! Also get please get in touch if you can correct dates or locations. To end, here are examples of Flint Jack's tools and products