Fake Fairies

The Cottingley Fairies

Cottingley Fairy 1917

A schoolgirl with artistic talent created fake photos using cardboard cutouts in 1917. A famous figure championed the authenticity of the images - and that famous figure was Arthur (Conan) Doyle. Yes, the author of Sherlock Holmes used the pen name Arthur Conan Doyle and he received a knighthood for his medical services in the Boer War (1899 - 1902); but his title was Sir Arthur Doyle. He had no right to call himself Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: that was not exactly a fake name, but a double-barrel sounded posher than plain Arthur Doyle.

Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur became obsessed with theosophy and spiritism; it suited him to believe in the Cottingley Fairies. This is a long and murky story which you will find here ⨌click.