[Rarebooks] FS: Interesting broadside on selling fake Indian relics in Ohio, ca. 1890

[Powers Rare Books]

I can offer...

      [ARCHAEOLOGY].  Broadside advertisement from R. W. Mercer's 
Curiosity Store warning against people selling fake pipes, beads, etc. 
dug from Indian mounds.  Cincinnati, Ohio, ca. 1890.
      Single sheet, appx. 9 by 6 1/2 inches, printed on green paper; 
folded twice with some slight wear at one of the folds, otherwise fine.
      An amusing broadside in which Mercer enumerates several vendors of 
relics whom he claims are dishonest: "Be aware of C. V. Stewart who 
claims he lives at Nashville, Brown County, Ind.  His delight is bogus 
Amulets, Tubes, Pipes, etc.  (He is slick.)    Be aware of old man 
Stratton of Aurora, Ind., who doats on fine Pipes, Banner Stones and 
other fancy pieces.  He is an old-time sinner.  Be aware of Chas. N. 
Boady of Orwigsburg, Pa., whose innocent amusement has been to make old 
broken points over into fancy forms and sell at fancy prices."
      In response to one of his accusations, against James W. Robinette, 
prompted several letters in support of the latter, including one from 
A. F. Berlin, a fairly distinguished American archaeologist.  Berlin 
pardons Robinette by saying he is ignorant rather than fraudulent, and 
closes by attacking Mercer: "You are not a member and never did a 
stroke to further the advancement of what you call my A.A.A." (perhaps 
an American Association of Archaeology?).  Mercer then reprints a 
letter he had received from Robinette offering him at cut-rate prices 
some pipes and beads Robinette had unearthed in Powles Valley, complete 
with grammatical errors and bad punctuation."  He quotes a note Berlin 
sent to a newspaper warning of fraudulent soapstone objects coming out 
of Philadelphia and Cincinnati [implying Mercer], and swings this 
vituperative stick at Berlin: "Further comment is unnecessary for the 
present as the above shows the mendacious vindictiveness of the dying 
champion of Frauds."
      Finally, the broadside closes with this advertisement: "I have 
published a very instructive ARCHAEOLOGICAL HAND-BOOK profusely 
illustrated with Idols, Pottery and numerous Flint, Stone, and other 
relics describing their uses.  Sent post-paid for 10 cents."  Also 
included is a small card which reprints his individual warnings.
      A fascinating glimpse into the nineteenth-century antiquities 
market and the perennial thin line between history and fakery.

$125 plus shipping.

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Cheers,
Greg Powers
Powers Rare Books
344 Orange Street
Manchester NH  03104
603-624-9707
powersrarebooks at comcast.net
Member: NHABA