[Rarebooks] FS: "Fake" Jewelry on Installments in 1903

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

>From our new BOOKS ON FASHION & JEWELRY Catalog-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/List-6-1-08.htm>

 -


Mussey, Henry R. "THE "FAKE" INSTALLMENT BUSINESS"  New York; The
University Settlement Society: 1903.

"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".

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


To see the entire Catalog, go to-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/List-6-1-08.htm>

 - - -



JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 239
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061 USA
telephone (413) 247-5080

Our website-
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

Our Latest Catalogs-

SPRING, 2008 -Recent Acquisitions
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_312.htm>

FOLK ARTS & AMERICANA
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_302.htm>

BOOKS ON GLASS
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_299.htm>

BOOKS ON CERAMICS
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_295.htm>

BOOKS ON FURNITURE
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_306.htm>

BOOKS ON SILVER
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_308.htm>

FIRE AND ICE
 -lighting, fireplaces & ice
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_282.htm>

A GRAVE AFFAIR
 -gravestones, epitaphs & mourning
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_288.htm>

 ~ ~ ~

 SPEAKING OF BOOKS
    -Our free email News List
<http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

 FOGGYGATES
    - our Bookselling blog
<http://foggygates.blogspot.com/>

 ~ ~ ~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for
the first book, and $2.00 for each additional book. Shipments outside the
U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within
ten days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 5% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.