Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
This original 6 X 8 black and white wire photograph pictures the most notorious swindler in history, Charles Ponzi, for whom the infamous “Ponzi Scheme” is named after. Ponzi is referred to as “The King of the ‘Get Rich Quick Boys,’” in the news caption that unfolds, attached to the verso of the photograph. The photograph which is stamp dated 1930, refers to Ponzi’s deportation upon his release from jail from the Massachusetts State Prison. In the early 1920’s Ponzi operated his business as a professional con-artist, the “Bernie Madoff” of his time; promising clients a 50% profit within 45 days or 100% profit within 90 days. Ponzi ran his scheme for more than a year before it’s’ collapse, costing investors more than $20 million dollars. Remarkably for somebody as notorious as Ponzi, this is the first and only original photograph of him from the period that we have ever seen.