HOCKSHOP. (THE FABULOUS STORY OF THE "EMPERORS OF PAWNBROKING".)

Simpson, William R; Simpson, Florence K.; Samuels, Charles.

Published by Random House, New York, 1954

About this Item

311 pp, 8vo (8 1/4" H). B&w plates. "This anecdotal profile tells the story of the fabulous 'Emperors of Pawnbroking' - the William (Hockshop) Simpsons who for five generations maintained the oldest, best-known and most respected pawnshop in the United States. This bizarre family business began in 1822 when the first William Simpson came from England and set up New York's first hockshop. From the era of O. Henry to that of Damon Runyon, the Simpsons did business with gypsies, morticians, gamblers, actors, sportsmen and thousands of others who came to their store to solve unique personal problems. Among the items handled by the Simpsons were the fabulous Hope Diamond, a Stradivarius, a ten-volume History of the Jews, fifteenth-century manuscripts, paintings, a set of Chinese screens, rugs, linens, coins, antiques, watches and a Crusader's giant thumb ring. The people who hocked these varied treasures were famous and infamous, rich and poor, ethical and not so ethical. There are stories here about 'sleepers' - those unexpected bargains that turn up so rarely, and there is an expose of clever frauds and shady tricks used in the past. In addition, the appendix covers techniques and customs of pawnbroking and gives five basic rules for hockers, plus a brief history of borrowing and lending through the ages. Here you will learn how to protect yourself, how to tell genuine from fake merchandise, some dependable trade names, and how to determine value." Very light browning to pages, light browning to fore-edge and bottom of textblock, light soiling on bottom of textblock, light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine, book slight cocked, a few small faint watermarks on top edge of textblock. Dust jacket has light browning, moderate edgewear/wrinkling/creasing, very small chips at top/bottom of hinges and flap-folds, one small tear archivally taped, light rubbing - now protected in removable mylar sleeve.

Seller Inventory # 20291

Bibliographic Details

• Title: HOCKSHOP. (THE FABULOUS STORY OF THE "EMPERORS OF PAWNBROKING".)
• Publisher: Random House, New York
• Publication Date: 1954
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fair
• Signed: Not Signed
• Seller catalogs:
  • American History & Travel
  • Antiques & Collectibles
  • Business, Finance