The map thief

via californios.us

I don't know if this Joseph Mora(1876-1947) map of southern california is among the maps that E. Forbes Smiley III is said to have stolen, but it's certainly lovely. (doubleclick for larger image) His site, efsmaps.com, has been taken down since he was sentenced. Here is a Forbes/AP story about him, and below are a couple of images of EFS No. 3 from Carto.com, although I guess the one on the security cam is an "alleged" photo of him. And he doesn't look 230 pounds to me. Maybe he was 210-215, plus maps. I wonder if anyone ever offered to sell him stuff from the Iraqi museum, "no questions asked." What do you think?



and finally, also from Carto.com:

For him that stealeth a Book from this Library, let it change into a serpent into his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with PALSY, and all his Members blasted. Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy and let there be no surcease to his Agony till he sink in Dissolution. Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final Punishment, let the flames of Hell consume.

from a sixteenth-century Spanish curse(via Dorothy Sloane)

Now that's harsh. I wouldn't even wish that on George Bush the 2nd, let alone map thief EF Smiley the 3rd!