A historical document’s trapSourced
Old-looking paper did not make it genuine
The salamander letter sparked debate over early Latter Day Saint history in the 1980s. Some experts accepted its apparent period materials, but it was later demonstrated to be a forgery by Mark Hofmann. Its alleged events cannot be treated as historical facts.
A document’s aged appearance and its authenticity require different checks.
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Salamander letter · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-10