FORGERY. - [Icilio Federico JONI. A pair of book covers in the Renaissance style, or 'Tavolette di Biccherna'. N.p.: circa late 19th century, early 20th.] Italian giltwood and tempera, upper cover with two celestial figures, possibly Christ and archangel Michael above a scene from a notary office with ten figures and a centre-panel with eight coat-of-arms, below that the names of tax officials from the dated period 1467-1468 and four further coat-of-arms, the lower cover with a Christogram and elaborate art nouveau floral surround and three Sienese coat-of-arms, a leather binding joining them. (Some loss to gilt edges). Note: by the year 1459 the Commune of Siena had begun binding their accounts in leather, so Joni's inscription of 1467-1468 reveals his deception. In selling these as original Renaissance book covers, Joni also failed to recreate contemporary stitching. Nevertheless, he enjoyed some celebrity when he was unmasked, and continued to receive commissions for his bindings.