Take a journey into the fascinating history of pawnbroking, from its origins in ancient times to its modern-day incarnation as a vital financial institution. Through engaging storytelling and meticulous research, William A. H. Hows brings to life the colorful characters, curious objects, and dramatic events that have shaped the pawnbroking industry. Whether you're a professional pawnbroker or just a curious reader, this book will enlighten and entertain you. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.