early Wall Street novella

The first edition of this early Wall Street novella in which an innocent upstate New York carpenter's son, Billy Hazard, is ruined by a failed short-selling trade: 'It is one of the most ingenious arts of modern speculation, that a man may sell what he has not, and grow rich upon the proceeds' (p.224).

First edition, first printing; 8vo; publisher's green cloth, burgundy leather title label to spine gilt, end leaves severely foxed as usual with initials to front free endpaper, with mild spotting to the associated terminal leaves, expertly rebacked preserving original spine, a really nice copy of a vulnerable little book.

Sabin 28584.