THE GREAT DIAMOND HOAX And Other Stirring Incidents in the Life of Asbury Harpending

Hardback. New Edn. 1st printing. (1st pub. 1913 by James H. Barry & Co., San Francisco). Foreword by Glen Dawson. The Great Diamond Hoax of the early 1870s, also known as the Diamond Mine Swindle, is one of the more exotic episodes in Western history. Before the fraud was exposed, the cleverly conceived and executed operation netted its sponsors at least $600,000 on an investment of not more than $35,000. Many of the country's leading financial and commercial personalities were taken in and several of the world's foremost authorities on precious jewels unwittingly contributed to the success of the hoax. Asbury Harpending, accused by some of being the rogue, scoundrel and genius by whom the hoax was conceived, tells his own story of the incredible events. Illus. 211pp. 12mo. h/back. With neat name insc. to ffep o/w Nr. F. in sl. shelf-worn Vg. dw.