Poyaisian Land Grant

Certificate of 1000 acres, Series A, No. 6, 1827. Signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor. Text in English and French, w. elaborate coat of arms depicted at top center, featuring English and Scottish flags.

Folded, some browning/ foxing as usual, repairs verso, some sm. tears. MacGregor (1786-1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer and con man who attempted to draw British and French investors and settlers from 1821 to 1837 to "Poyais", a fictional Central American territory (declared to be in present-day Honduras and Nicaragua) that MacGregor claimed to rule as "Cazique". Hundreds invested their savings in these supposed Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, and about 250 people emigrated to MacGregor's invented country in 1822-1823 to find only an untouched jungle; more than half of them died. MacGregor's Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen and elaborate cons in history. Fascinating piece of history from a famous con man.