The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook

The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook

£280.00
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The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
  • The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook
The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook

The Unparallel'd Impostor; The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook

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The Unparallel'd Impostor: Or, The Whole Life, Artifices and Forgeries of Japhet Crook, Anonymous — 1st Edition

Publication: London, Privately Printed, 1731

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [ii], 70.

Condition Report: Good. Rebound in a utilitarian, reddish-brown cloth, likely a later nineteenth or twentieth-century secondary binding. The boards exhibit moderate scuffing, minor rubbing to the extremities, and slight bumping to the corners, though the binding remains entirely tight and structurally secure. The spine features a simple stamped title reading "LIFE & FORGERIES of JAPHET CROOK". Internally, the text-block is sound but displays expected signs of age; the endpapers are moderately tanned. The title page is characterised by a noticeable, ragged puncture or paper loss to the upper quadrant, alongside general edge-wear and even age-toning. The flaw on the title page does not severely compromise the typography, but its presence firmly anchors the grade at Good.

Catalogue Note: First Edition. An exceptionally scarce survival of eighteenth-century true crime literature, published anonymously (though occasionally attributed to James Moore of Hampstead in bibliographical records). Issued contemporaneously with Crook's infamous sentencing, the pamphlet was rushed to press to capitalize on the public fervor surrounding his trial.

This copy has been preserved in a later, modest cloth binding, likely commissioned to protect the fragile original tract. It bears a simple early ownership inscription in ink to the front free endpaper ("Japhet Crook: 1731."). Genuine early eighteenth-century printings of this work are notably scarce on the open market, with most surviving examples tightly held in institutional special collections.

A captivating piece of Augustan-era true crime, The Unparallel'd Impostor chronicles the audacious exploits of Japhet Crook, alias Sir Peter Stranger, one of early eighteenth-century England's most notorious fraudsters. Born in Hertfordshire, Crook's decades-long career of embezzlement and deception included acting as a Quaker brewer and merchant, before embarking on extensive criminal "Rambles" spanning England, Scotland, and Ireland. His various schemes ultimately culminated in twice declaring bankruptcy, defrauding the King's Messenger, and forging elaborate wills to steal estates.

Crook's crimes peaked in a highly publicized trial where he was sentenced to stand in the pillory, have his ears cropped, his nostrils slit, and endure life imprisonment. This sensational pamphlet provides a breathless contemporary account of his artifices and includes a collection of his original letters to prominent figures such as Sir Robert Walpole and the Duchess of Kendal. It remains a fascinating window into the legal and social history of eighteenth-century fraud, perfectly encapsulated by the title page's rhyming epitaph: "Peter, throughout his Life, has been a Ranger; / And, to no Fraud whatever, is a Stranger."

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Anonymous

Book Publisher: N/A

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: True Crime

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 70

Book Publication Year: 1731

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.
Condition Description
New A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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