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B.2.15
Among the Broad-Arrow Men. A Plain Account of English Prison Life.
First edition. Far from common account of prison life in the 20s. The broad arrow of the title, often seen on the clothing of prisoners in period illustrations, refers to the mark used to identify government property from the thirteenth century onwards. The cloth of convict suits was thus stamped to prevent it being used for any other purpose, but also usefully identified its wearers. Jonathan Goodman was described by Julian Symons as "the premier English investigator of crimes past."
Octavo, original brown cloth lettered in black, title to upper board within single line panel. Line-drawn frontispiece, title-page vignette and 8 full-page illustrations. Book label of the Social Service Library of the Scottish Branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform to the front free endpaper together with the embossed stamp of crime historian Jonathan Goodman. Free endpapers browned, otherwise very good.
