The Wasp — 1892 — page 447: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page depicts fraudulent merchant schemes, likely from the late 19th century. The top panel shows a well-dressed merchant declaring "This is the chance of your life!" while hawking a "busted" auction sale with signs promising to "sell out" in 30 minutes—classic high-pressure sales tactics. Below, panels depict various deceptions: the rear of the fraudulent storefront showing excessive inventory being stockpiled, a merchant meeting with creditors after declaring bankruptcy ("busting"), and what appears to be emigration fraud, with the caption mentioning taking "a trip to Europe" and restocking for the next swindle. The satire targets merchant dishonesty and rotating bankruptcy schemes used to defraud customers and creditors repeatedly.