Also popular were audio media (vinyl records, cassette tapes, and reels), cosmetics, household items, and books.
The exact origin of the term fartsovka is uncertain, but one account suggests that it was derived from an archaic word from the Odessa dialect of Russian, "forets" (форец): a man who bought cheap items and sold them at dishonestly expensive prices.
There were two main sources of purchase of fartsa: from foreigners visiting the Soviet Union, and from contrabandists.
The main occupation of most of those who were called black marketers became buying through acquaintances who had connections or the opportunity to travel abroad, allowing them to acquire scarce goods and foodstuffs.
A notable fartsovshchik and foreign currency speculator was Yan Rokotov, involved in the Rokotov–Faibishenko case.