Description:

GREGOR MACGREGOR AND THE MOSQUITO COAST SCAM
Certificate evidencing one of the greatest scams of all time, an engraved land grant of 400 acres, issued in the form of a copy of an "original grant" from the "King of the Mosquito Shore and Nation" (now the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua). The document, 1p. folio, was issued in London, Apr. 28, 1834 by con artist GREGOR MAAGREGOR and is signed by him at bottom, four of his accomplices. Folds, light toning, else very good. Mac Gregor, a Scottish mercenary who fought with Bolivar, was appointed a general for his services. After expelling the Spanish from the 'Mosquito Coast' area, he arranged a land grant from the leader of the local people, the Mosquito, (today Miskito) Indians. In 1823 commenced selling tracts of land in the insect-infested rotting jungle, encouraging Scottish emigration to what he described as a thriving population center who had found their fortune on the streets of St Joseph and in the gold mines of the balmy country that surrounded it. Of course, when the emigrants arrived, they found no St. Joseph, no gold mines, no balmy weather - just angry Miskito Indians and insects, snakes and diseases they couldn't imagine. Despite the obvious fraud, Mac Gregor was never convicted of any crime, and retired to a life of ease in Venezuela where he wrote his memoirs.

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September 28, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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