Memoirs of a Social Monster; or, the History of Charles Price, Otherwise Bolingbroke, otherwise Johnson, otherwise Parks, otherwise Wigmore, otherwise Brank, otherwise Wilmott, otherwise Williams, otherwise Schutz, otherwise Trevors, otherwise Polton, otherwise Taylor, otherwise Powel, &c. &c. &c. and commonly called Old Patch. Containing an accurate account of the astonishing fraud and ingenious forgeries of that truly great man, On the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for a Series of Six Years. Including A faithful Detail of his Devices and Depredations on Society for a Period of Fifty-Five Years.

First edition, 12mo (160 x 95 mm), xxii, [2, blank], 348pp., with half-title, folding engraved frontispiece unfortunately lacking part, folding facsimile of Princeís handwriting - both his usual and in his disguised (also lacking lower left corner), without free-endpapers, contemporary calf, rubbed, although lacking part of frontispiece and facsimile plate, this is a rare book and the price reflects its imperfections. Charles Prince (1723-1786) was a master of disguise, a swindler and a forger. The folding frontispiece illustrates 3 of his disguises and also reveals the reason for his nickname ìOld Patchî. Charles Prince, born in London, began his illustrious career by robbing his Father, then perpetuating a vast number of swindlers. He advertised for investors in a brewery and promptly defrauded his investor and even had the audacity to try an entice this same investor in another scheme. Another time he portrayed himself as a Methodist preacher and then moved on the Bank of England: the most dangerous bank-note-forger the Bank of England ever had to deal with - he made his own papers, engraved his own plates, made his own ink and printed his own notes. He was particularly adept at illusion, altering his appearance, and enticing others to pass forged bills. When his unsuspecting employee Samuel was imprisoned, Price melted into the ever obscure shadows that he always seemed to have waiting. Price finally was apprehended and met his unfortunate end. He swindled the Bank for the last time, was prosecuted, and knowing there was no way of escaping execution for his crimes, he took his own life. He was found one evening hanging against the post of the door of his apartments, in Tothill Fields Bridwell. It has been written that the success of Mr. Charles Price has never been surpassed, certainly he was one of the greatest forgers who ever lived.