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An original Autograph Letter Signed ‘Jos: Ady, Accountant’, informing his unsuspecting correspondent that Ady “is able to inform you of something he believes considerably to your advantage on receipt of twenty shillings for his trouble by Post Office order or otherwise on a promise of one fourth part when recovered.”

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An original Autograph Letter Signed ‘Jos: Ady, Accountant’, informing his unsuspecting correspondent that Ady “is able to inform you of something he believes considerably to your advantage on receipt of twenty shillings for his trouble by Post Office order or otherwise on a promise of one fourth part when recovered.”

by ADY, Joseph

  • Used
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About This Item

7 York Steet, Charlotte Street [London], undated, c.1850. 7 x 7 inches, in worn condition, laid down. A remarkable surviving manuscript record of Victorian low life. Joseph Ady (1770–1852) was a notorious English impostor. His career is recorded by De Quincey in an essay on Secret Societies. Ady was at one time a hatter in London, but failing in that business he hit upon the device of raising funds by means of circular letters. He would look up the lists of unclaimed inheritances, dividends, and bequests, and then write, without stamping his letters, to any people of those names that he could find, offering to produce ‘something to their advantage’ on payment of 20/-. In numerous instances he evaded the law and baffled the magistrates and post-office authorities.

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Details

Bookseller
Julian Browning Rare Books & Manuscripts GB (GB)
Bookseller's Inventory #
17370
Title
An original Autograph Letter Signed ‘Jos: Ady, Accountant’, informing his unsuspecting correspondent that Ady “is able to inform you of something he believes considerably to your advantage on receipt of twenty shillings for his trouble by Post Office order or otherwise on a promise of one fourth part when recovered.”
Author
ADY, Joseph
Book Condition
Used
Place of Publication
7 York Steet, Charlotte Street [London], undated, c.1850

Terms of Sale

Julian Browning Rare Books & Manuscripts

Guarantee. All items are sent on approval and may be returned immediately if unacceptable for any reason. All letters and documents are guaranteed genuine and as described.

About the Seller

Julian Browning Rare Books & Manuscripts

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2006
London

About Julian Browning Rare Books & Manuscripts

We present an on-line Catalogue of over 1350 Books, Autographs, Autograph Letters & Historical Manuscripts for sale. We specialise in historical manuscripts 1450-1950 in all fields.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Device
Especially for older books, a printer's device refers to an identifying mark, also sometimes called a printer's mark, on the...
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