I’d been planning to resume the Wall Street Frauds Make Wonderful Cartoons series of last year, starting in 2012. But the growing Occupy Wall Street movement has had me itching to get back to the subject earlier.

Click on the pictures above and below, to view larger versions.

First up, Childish Simplicity, published in the October 19th, 1872 issue of Frank Leslie’s Boys’ and Girls’ Weekly. Demonstrating how the reputation currently enjoyed by banks, is one they’ve nurtured over a long, deep, consistent history of (mis)behavior.

Below, a re-presentation from a year-and-a-half ago, of a set of circa 1880s trade cards depicting a child Playing Bank President according to the examples of his day. The set is by artist C.M. Coolidge (most celebrated for his painting of dogs playing poker).

To find last year’s episodes of this series,click on Wall Street Frauds Make Wonderful Cartoons. And, to find posts on financial reforms in general, click here.

Doug Wheeler

financial reform FLBGWeekly