Description: THE PURVEYOR: THE SHOCKING STORY OF TODAY'S ILLICIT LIQUOR EMPIRE, by John Starr (veteran journalist and non-fiction author), 1961 1st edition, a pre-release Review Copy with accompanying card indicating it would go on sale May 8,; 8.385 x 5.7-inch linen clad HB with embossed white lettering at top and bottom of spine, and black lettering in red section of spine; mylar-protected DJ, 373 pp. printed on quality matte-finished stock which looks fine at age 63; near-excellent condition (book and DJ, which has $4.95 at upper front flap). Most crime buffs know that The National Prohibition Act, commonly known as The Volstead Act after the conservative Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was passed in 1919. It was backed by the Protestant evangelical community and the pols who served them, and prohibited the manufacture or importation, and distribution of alcoholic beverages in America. These pompous white men had decided the beer and cheap booze was corrupting the waves of Catholic immigrants in the big cities, fueled by the Catholic beer barons whose breweries were in Milwaukee. But the desire for booze was widespread, not just among the teeming masses but also the Upper Crust, and what had been relatively small-time gangs that relied on extortion, robbery, and prostitution, now had a change to go national by providing booze to millions, much of it imported from Havana and Canada, some from England, and a good amount brewed within the U.S. Remarkably this insane Act least until March 1933, when it was finally repealed. What this powerful book revealed is that even after booze was legal again, the mob didn't abandon their reliable illicit alcohol trade, which was deemed by many bootleggers as their pension plan. The author found a retired Mafia bootlegger who agreed to tell his story under the assumed name of "Angelo Pavane." It's a colorful, richly detailed mob story from asn insider who became mob-affiliated as a teenager. FYI, it's a reminder that we shouldn't allow the religious right to dictate laws for the whole country, as is evident with their overturning of Roe v. Wade. There are many different reprints on eBay but only one other 1961 1st edition with a DJ. Accompanied by a cover photo only, it shows a bit more DJ wear, lacks a mylar cover, and isn't a Review Copy. It's $18.00 + $5.00 shipping. My Buy-It-Now price of of $20.00 includes shipping bubble-wrapped in a cardboard box via media mail, which takes around 7 days with tracking.
Price: 20 USD
Location: Studio City, California
End Time: 2025-01-06T20:44:24.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: Hardcover
Language: English
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Dust Jacket
Author: John Starr
Publisher: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York
Topic: the illicit booze empire which financed organized crime
Subject: the history of illegal booze in America
Character Family: author's primary source "Angelo Pavane" (a major bootlegger)
Original/Facsimile: Original
