This book is one of the rarest books on Paleontology due to the fact the author tried to burn every copy that was published when he discovered, to his dismay, his students forged the fossil samples. What is the book in question?

lanfranco

This is J.B.A. Beringer's "Lithographia Wirceburgensis ..." of 1726. The story that students made the fakes has been disputed: http://www.antiquariaatjunk.com/php/search.php3?Subjects=Paleontology&CatTitle=Paleontology Feb 13 07, 1:45 PM

lanfranco

Here's the Wiki site on Johann Beringer. It suggests that his attempt to destroy all copies of the book may be just a legend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Beringer Feb 13 07, 1:53 PM

skysmom65

10 Scientific Frauds that Rocked the World. 2. Scientist in on God’s Prank In the early 18th century Dr. Johann Beringer of the University of Würzburg devoted his research to the discovery of fossils that seemed to indicate prehistoric life. Beringer, however, believed that these fossils were "capricious fabrications of God," used to test man’s faith. His belief seemed confirmed when at one site he discovered fossils of birds, beetles, moons, and stars. Little did he know that two mean-spirited colleagues had planted the fake fossils. Perhaps trying to get caught, they even planted tablets inscribed with the Hebrew and Arabic words for God. Beringer published a book, Lithographia Wirceburgensis, in 1726 describing his findings and his theory. But then he made another discovery: a similar buried tablet inscribed with his own name. He immediately began trying to buy back all the available copies of his book, but it was too late. Because of the hoax, his book became a bestseller. http://www.neatorama.com/2006/09/19/10scientific-frauds-that-rocked-the-world/ Feb 13 07, 2:29 PM

skysmom65

This is related to the subject too...interesting! The Lying Stones of Dr. Beringer Synopsis. The plight of Dr. Johann Bartholomew Adam Beringer who published 21 plates of fake fossils in his “Lithographia Wirceburgensis” in 1726, has been documented in trial transcripts from his time and reinterpreted in recent studies. However, the puzzling question still remains: why the seeming gullibility with which the falsifications were accepted as real by an otherwise highly respected member of the scientific community? This contribution is a rehabilitation of sorts. First Beringer was not as gullible as it might seem. His presentation of the “figured stones” proposes a classification scheme, he asks questions and poses multiple hypotheses about their origin, and invites discussion by his peers. His wanting to believe must be viewed from the geographical, political and academic setting in which he operated. His was the age of princely museums, curio cabinets, Raritätensammlungen and Kunstkamern, and avid hunger for any natural object out of the ordinary. http://www.geo.umn.edu/courses/1081/handouts/1081_Bers_Lying_StHandout_1_2006.htm Feb 13 07, 2:34 PM