THE DOUBLE MARKET Art Theft and Art Thieves

Hardback. It began when works of art became more than beautiful and handsome objects to be admired in museums, salons and private collections. It began when art with rocketing values became as good as capital investment as gilt-edged shares. Art theft as practised by the astute criminal has become almost as profitable as legitimate art dealing. It is a phenomenon of the post-war years and as long as art is regarded as capital so will the art thief flourish. The author lucidly and with careful detail surveys the entire field, from the ransoms paid by insurance companies to the detective methods used by the world's police forces to combat this modern crime wave. He has interviewed thieves themselves, been aided by Interpol and been privy to Scotland Yard and FBI sources. A style of detective book concerned with factual accounts of all the spectacular cases over the post-war years. Illus. + Index. 237pp. 8vo. h/back. F. in Vg. dw. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage if shipped overseas.