[Rarebooks] fs: The 'Fake' Jewelry Trade in New York
Joslin Hall Rare Books
office at joslinhall.com
Tue Feb 8 05:55:18 EST 2005
Offered by Joslin Hall Rare Books, from our
newly refreshed "JUST CATALOGUED" pages
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Mussey, Henry R. THE "FAKE" INSTALMENT BUSINESS. Being an outline of its
development, an account of the revival of imprisonment for debt and of the
other outrages practiced by dealers under cover of the law, together with
suggestions for the destruction of the 'fake' trade.
New York; The University Settlement Society: 1903.
A study of the so-called "fake" trade -a trade which, according to the
author, flourished exclusively in New York's East Side Italian immigrant
community. Poor immigrants were sold "gewgaws" and jewelry at "outrageously
inflated" prices, often 10 to 20 times what the objects were worth, and
signed a draconian contract for installment payments. The corrupt dealer
then arranged for them to miss a payment and would immediately demand full
payment of the balance. If the immigrant could not borrow enough from
friends to pay, a corrupt policeman would arrest him, at which point he
would either pay up or be sent to what amounted to debtors prison until his
friends and family finally settled the bill. The author also includes
proposed legislation to correct this scam.
This study was reprinted in 1936, and neither printing is common; OCLC
locates just 3 copies of each. Softcover. 5.5"x9", 45 [1] pages; a poor
copy, ex-institutional, completely disbound with the pages and front cover
all loose, and rear cover missing. In addition the paper is very brittle
and the pages and cover are chipping. For all this, a very scarce item in
any condition. [06884] $125.00
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