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1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime
1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime
1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime
1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime
1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime

1903 Edition 'Installment' Jewelry Trade Scam Exposed - New York City Crime

$ 13.2

  • Binding: Softcover, Wraps
  • Language: English
  • Original/Facsimile: Original
  • Subject: Americana
  • Topic: American (US)

Description

“The "Fake" Installment Business” By Henry R. Mussey. Published in New York by The University Settlement Society in 1903. DISCUSSION: "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, although the text can now be found online. 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. SHIPPING NOTES: We combine shipping charges on orders for more than one item- you pay the shipping fee for your first item, and any other items that you order at the same time are shipped with it for no additional charge [If you buy more than one item please ask us to send a revised invoice before you pay]. All ephemera & photos are shipped USPS ‘Ground Advantage’ (which used to be First Class Package) in a board-reinforced card mailer with a large red DO NOT BEND sticker. Stock #36221 Joslin Hall Books & Ephemera Selling books & ephemera since 1983 - Member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers and the Ephemera Society . Your satisfaction is guaranteed with every item you purchase.