Skip to content

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York Hardcover - 2015

by Alex Palmer


From the rear cover

The true story of John Duval Gluck, Jr., who in 1913 founded the Santa Claus Association, which had the sole authority to answer Santa's mail in New York City. He ran the organization for 15 years, gaining fame for making the myth of Santa a reality to poor children by arranging for donors to deliver the toys they requested, until a crusading charity commissioner exposed Gluck as a fraud. The story is wide in scope, interweaving a phony Boy Scout group, kidnapping, stolen artwork, and appearances by the era's biggest stars and New York City's most famous landmarks. The book is both a personal story and a far-reaching historical one, tracing the history of Christmas celebration in America and the invention of Santa Claus.

Details

  • Title The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York
  • Author Alex Palmer
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition [ Edition: First
  • Pages 320
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Lyons Press, Guilford, CT
  • Date 2015-10
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Index
  • ISBN 9781493008445 / 1493008447
  • Weight 1.35 lbs (0.61 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 in (23.11 x 14.99 x 3.05 cm)
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 1920's
    • Chronological Period: 20th Century
    • Chronological Period: 1900-1919
    • Cultural Region: Mid-Atlantic
    • Cultural Region: Northeast U.S.
    • Geographic Orientation: New York
    • Holiday: Christmas
    • Locality: New York, N.Y.
    • Religious Orientation: Christian
  • Library of Congress subjects New York (N.Y.), New York (N.Y.) - Social life and customs -
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2015011994
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

Media reviews

Citations

  • Publishers Weekly, 08/10/2015, Page 0

About the author

Alex Palmer is freelance writer and researcher who curated an exhibit on the Santa Claus Association for Brooklyn's City Reliquary in December 2012. It received wide press attention and was the subject of a major holiday feature for WNYC. He is the author of two previous books: Weird-o-Pedia (Skyhorse, 2012), for which he researched hundreds of unusual facts about everyday things from Donuts to Dogs and which has sold more than 10,000 copies to date, with special distribution in Urban Outfitters and elsewhere; and Literary Miscellany (Skyhorse, 2010), which offers a breezy and entertaining survey of the history of literature. His writing has appeared in the NY Daily News, USA Today, The New York Post, Publishers Weekly, and many other outlets. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Spokane, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$4.88
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedGood. Condition Good: Book is used and in good condition with some wear from use. This may include stickers on cover, wear to dustcover/missing dustcover, inside cover, spine, slight curled corners, stains, and wear to the fore edge. All orders ship via UPS Mail Innovations. Shipping can take up to 14 business days from first scan to be delivered. This is a former library book/rental, stickers and markings accordingly.
Item Price
$4.88
$3.99 shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Carpentersville, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.40
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Oct 01, 2015. Hardcover. Good. Good. Copyright 2016 hardcover, missing the dust jacket. Unmarked pages, uncreased spine, moderate wear.
Item Price
$5.40
$3.99 shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$6.74
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Alex Palmer

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.99
$5.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Lyons Press, October 2015. Hardcover . Used Very Good/Very Good. Dust Jacket is clean and intact, with minor edge and corner wear. Front and back covers have very slight edge and corner wear. Spine intact with no creasing or warping. Binding is tight and intact, pages clean and unmarked. In nice, but previously owned condition. We carry new and used books in our storefront. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. Please contact us if you have questions regarding this item.
Item Price
$6.99
$5.50 shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...

The Santa Claus Man : The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Alex Palmer

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Globe Pequot Press, The, 2015. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Lyons Press, 2015. Hardcover. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Lyons Press, 2015. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$8.42
FREE shipping to USA
The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

by Palmer, Alex

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781493008445 / 1493008447
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.37
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Lyons Press, 2015-10-01. Hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$10.37
FREE shipping to USA