Prison ring explained

A prison ring is a type of plastic jewelry fashioned by hand in prisons, by working scrap plastic material, commonly celluloid items such as a toothbrush or a pen.^{[1] [2]} Celluloid was historically a popular material since it could be heat bonded and glues were often less available. A common feature of prison rings were small photos mounted on the bezel.^[3]

The rings were produced as early as the 1920s. Rainey Bethea, the last person to be publicly executed in the United States, was caught after a 1936 rape and murder because he left a distinctive prison ring at the murder scene.^{[4] [5]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: More Celluloid Jewelry - Laminated Bob Dodd Rings. December 7, 2012.
2. Book: Leigh Leshner. Collecting Art Plastic Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide. 26 August 2012. 28 February 2011. Krause Publications. 978-1-4402-2751-6. 9–.
3. Book: Grasso, Tony . 1996 . Bakelite Jewellery A Collector's guide. The Apple Press . 94–98 . 1850766134 .
4. Web site: August 14: On This Day in History … briefly. 14 August 2018 .
5. Book: Craughwell, Thomas J.. Busted: Mugshots and Arrest Records of the Famous and Infamous. December 12, 2011. Running Press. 9781603762694. Google Books.