Falsification Bashny.Net

As two British grandmothers managed to deceive the world and of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

This story happened a long time ago, when said lady were still teenagers and did not really know what they do. Just did not know that such actions are qualified by Scotland Yard as a fraud. Evil, no one no one cause, and no one, as a result, especially not hurt ... Well, maybe a little "Podmokly" reputation of the father-creator of the great detective Sherlock Holmes.

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ps about fotozhabu





And it was so. In the summer of 1917, two British cousins ​​- a sixteen year old Elsie Wright (Elsie Wright) and a ten-year Frances Griffiths (Frances Griffiths) - invented a story about fairies. Like, on the lawn beside the stream, where the games so the time flies imperceptibly, those pesky winged creatures full of them. Adults, of course, did not believe such tales. Then the girl promised to back words with deeds, and asked for permission to use the family camera. They were allowed. Out of curiosity. In the morning we went to the liar "photo hunting", and in the evening of the same day came the first shot - Francis surrounded by young men, dancing butterflies.

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The fact that the camera detects certain objects allegedly fairy fairies or elves, doubts arose. Only required to prove or disprove the authenticity of the picture. The first was made by an expert Arthur Wright - Elsie's father. He confirmed that the appearance of strange objects in the photo are not a consequence of error when taking photographic plates or film development. However, he admitted that the miniature figurines of fairies could be cut out of paper. But cousin stubbornly insisted on his winged folk - live, real! Considering that before the girls a tendency to lie is not observed, the parents had to agree.

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Maybe this story and would have developed in such a large-scale fotoaferu peacefully settling in the archives of family memories Griffiths-Wright, but a few months later came another shot - Elsie with a gnome. Hearing about the girls who can see fairies, slowly crawled on Britain splashed outside the village of Cottingley (Yorkshire). Viral propagation mechanisms are very craze promoted spiritism, flourished in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the XX century. And Ann Wright, the mother of the eldest of the girls, was just a local member of the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Blavatsky.

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From Madame Blavatsky learned about the amazing phenomenon of Edward Gardner, known in the country lecturer-theosophist, and after him and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The latter was passionately interested in spiritualism and it allowed for the possibility of life after death and believed in the supernatural, in the existence of parallel worlds and ... fairies. This is where it happened, and what happened.

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By studying the images attracted some additional experts - professional photographers and artists. All experts unanimously agreed that the photos are not the studio, confirmed the authenticity of the negatives and positives, and also noted the absence of retouching (although it was not yet a direct confirmation of the existence of fairies as such, because the analysis did not include analysis of photographic techniques and tricks). Edward Gardner, in turn, warmly vouched for his honesty and families Wright Griffiths.

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Encouraged by the results of the preliminary investigation, Conan Doyle wrote the article "Photos Fairy" for the Christmas issue of the magazine «Strand Magazine». The entire print run sold out in a matter of days. Following the news caught the world's press. So, with a light hand the author of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, baby Elsie and Frances gained sensational popularity not only in Britain, but also far beyond its borders. The Cottingley drew crowds of curious, wanting to see the winged folk with their own eyes (and some even took to assert that actually saw variegated elven brethren). The famous lawn near a stream named the Valley of Fay. So it is called to this day.

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Photo Cottingley



In August 1921, Doyle and Gardner organized a follow-up experiment. Cousineau camera provided with a set of labeled photographic plates (to avoid possible spoofing) and asked to make new pictures. Soon we saw the light three intriguing photographs. In the wake of inflamed public interest in 1922, Arthur Conan Doyle published his book "Coming of Fairies", detailed in her all the circumstances kottingliyskogo case, including the testimony of witnesses, expert opinions, their own view of events, and a number of different occult theories that existed in this respect in the world .

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The "Coming of Fairies" were both supporters and critics, and outspoken detractors. Nevertheless, until his death Doyle (1930), no one could convincingly refute the authenticity of the pictures. So the writer slept with the world and with the sincere belief in fairies and other fairy-tale wonders.

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Forty years comely lady - Elsie and Frances - continued to keep the secret of falsified images. From time to time the media pulled idle thing "kottingliyskih fairies" of dusty chests of history and again questioned the old ladies with a taste of the details required new fotodokazatelstv. But they stubbornly stood his ground: "Everything - the truth. There were children - have seen; matured - lost the ability to see and, consequently, the ability to take pictures. " Subsequently cousin confessed that the last thing they wanted to tarnish the noble Sir Arthur, who became an unwitting "victim" of their children's antics. Therefore we continued to fool reporters.

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In the early seventies, the two cousins ​​did not survive the pressure of Mass Media and decided finally to hand over impregnable bastions, confirmed that some of the photos - fiction. What provoked another series of examinations and investigative journalism. In the end, it came to computer analysis (examination of Robert Schiefer). Here's the whole truth and came out: the famous "kottingliyskie fairies" - one hundred percent fake. Followed in April 1983, followed by full recognition of old women.
"I'm fed up with these stories ... - Frances Griffiths said. - I can not stand these photos and shudder every time I see them. It was a joke, but everything continued to take it seriously. But it was to be completed by itself sixty years ago ».

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In order to make the famous photos, the girls copy images from a book («Princess Mary's Gift Book», edition 1914), reinforced cardboard and cut out. A gnome sculpted from clay. Then picturesquely-hung figurines were placed in front of the lens, recording their long hat pin and thread. That's all the nuances kottingliyskogo secret. Mystery "Coming fairies" melted away like a magic mist of Avalon.
The world learned the truth and breathe freely, ending the obsession of the existence of a mysterious winged narodtse. However, not all were happy. Some sad, disappointed. Among them - Edward Gardner, the last of the survivors enthusiasts kottingliyskoy command of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The news about the falsification of Isis found him in New Zealand, the famous theosophist was 96 years old.

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