Huckster

One of the denizens of the hucksters' room at sf conventions, the huckster (or sometimes huxter), or in the UK dealer, tries get congoers bitten by the Kolektinbug in order to sell them more things than they want or can afford. Historically, often known as "filthy hucksters."

Traditionally, these were sellers of used books and magazines, many of whom were fans selling off personal collections a means of paying their way to cons. Today, booksellers have become a decided minority, and mounds of jewelry, t-shirts, toys, CDs, garb and tchotchkes fill the huckster tables, frequently sold by vendors who make the rounds of Renaissance fairs, antiques shows and other such events and refer to cons as "shows."

In some circles, like the West Coast, the traditional term huckster has become too undignified for these sellers, and they like to call themselves "dealers" -- as if it made a difference. In the UK the term huckster is rarely used, dealers are proud to be called so.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

A person sufficiently --foolhardy-- degraded to try and make money from stf. Sellers of books & proz, etc.

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Fanspeak

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