mock-auctioneers

Updated: July 13, 2026

These rascally mock-auctioneers, thus protected by the authorities, used to fleece the public out of not less than sixty thousand dollars a year. One of them cleared twelve thousand dollars during the year 1861 alone. And this totally shameless and brazen-faced humbug flourished in New York for twenty-five years!

P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum - The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries,: Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages