[Rarebooks] FS: Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: “Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island”

By Kenneth Scott.
Published by the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1960.

DISCUSSION: Tales of silversmiths and other, well, small-business
entrepreneurs, who just couldn't resist the temptation to fake either
Colonial Rhode Island’s printed paper or coined money. The list is
surprisingly long, and includes many otherwise-upstanding citizens, as
well as vagabonds, carpenters and not a few housewives. And, despite the
motto, “Death to the Counterfeit”, which appeared on many Colonial bills,
juries in Rhode island were surprisingly lenient with accused
counterfeiters, often refusing to convict them at all despite damning
evidence, and even when convicted, often sentencing them no more than a
slap on the wrist or a cropped ear. Those, like popular and gifted
silversmith Samuel Casey, who were eventually convicted (after three
trials) and sentenced to hang, were likely as not to be sprung from jail
by masked mobs of friends, instead of swinging from the town gibbet. All
in all, the tale of counterfeiting in 17th and 18th century Rhode Island
is one of derring-do, midnight escapes, and sometimes frightful stupidity
(as in the case of five counterfeiters who detailed their nefarious
activities in a long, legally signed contract). Al Capone’s 1930s Chicago
this most definitely wasn’t...

DESCRIPTION: Hardcover. 6"x9", 74 pages, plus 5 black & white plates.

CONDITION NOTES: Minor wear, but otherwise clean and nice, with a tight
binding.

PRICE: $75 -

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Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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