SECRET BAND OF BROTHERS. A FULL AND TRUE EXPOSITION OF ALL THE VARIOUS CRIMES, VILLANIES [sic], AND MISDEEDS OF THIS POWERFUL ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Green, Jonathan H.

Published by T.B. Peterson and Brothers, Philadelphia, 1858

About this Item

302,19 [i.e. 17],[1]pp. plus engraved frontispiece. Original publisher's cloth stamped in blind and copper. Cloth faded and lightly stained, worn at spine ends, corners worn and bumped, cloth at top of front joint split. Previous owner's blindstamp on front flyleaf, titlepage, and preface leaf. Pronounced foxing to first few leaves, otherwise light marginal foxing. Very good. The fourth edition, following the first of 1847, of one of the classics in American gambling literature, written by Jonathan H. Green (1813-87), renowned professional gambler who eventually repented of his ways and became even more famous as the "reformed gambler." He became a prolific author and crusader, and this work is a lurid expose of crime, cheating, and vice. In the introduction, Green says that this work is unlike any other he has ever written - unlike, in fact, any work ever before published in America: "It is not a mere exposure of gambling, nor yet an attack on the character of particular gamblers. It is a revelation of wide-spread organization - pledged to gambling, theft, and villainy of all kinds." Howes calls this a sequel to Green's GAMBLING UNMASKED. "Exposé of a secret organization of gamblers and criminals. Pages 147-62 relate his trip to Texas and the Choctaws in 1833" - Eberstadt. Green's writings were extremely popular, and this work went through several editions. A scarce work on early American gambling. HOWES G367. SABIN 28534 (ref). EBERSTADT 162:355 (ref). Seller Inventory # WRCAM55517

Bibliographic Details

Title: SECRET BAND OF BROTHERS. A FULL AND TRUE ...

Publisher: T.B. Peterson and Brothers, Philadelphia

Publication Date: 1858