Usury Law Reform. Reports of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, from 1854 to 1864.
New York: John W. Amerman, Printer, 1864. 26 pp. 8vo. Stitched paper wrappers. First edition. A very good copy, light offsetting to front wrapper, one initial at top edge, mail fold, marginal line to one paragraph. Item #27636
Reprints Barstow's original argument against the Usury laws (Report upon the Usury laws) as well as nearly ten years of further reports and memorials, questions and answers to criticisms, and various appendices. Barstow argues that the current laws restrict trade: "We have for many months witnessed in our city a most grievous pressure on our money market; a pressure almost beyond a parallel for intensity. The cost of raising money has weighed down the energies of many enterprising men. Usury Law restrictions have afforded no alleviation in the hour of need. The very reverse of this has been their result." Scarcer than the initial report. OCLC shows only six copies: NYPL, Stanford Law, Harvard, Brit. Lib. (2), and American Antiquarian Society.
Price: $150.00