2-714-633 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Will he make gold?, 1932. 'Fabriquera-t-il de l'or?'. Engineer Zbigniew Dunikowski claimed to be in possession of a secret formula which allowed him to obtain gold from ordinary sand and rocks. The 'Polish alchemist' was eventually sued by his impatient financial backers, and arrested. While in detention, he was allowed to make a last attempt to produce gold at the Ecole Centrale in Paris, in an effort to regain his freedom and reputation. When this attempt failed, he was sentenced two years in prison and ordered to repay investors. Front cover of "L'Illustré du Petit Journal". [January 1932]