Sale 2458 - Art & Storytelling: Photographs & Photobooks, October 19, 2017

329 c   (CRIME—MUGSHOTS) A vast mugshot album containing approximately 2,270 double mugshot photographs of Prohibition-era criminals from Phoenix, Arizona. Containing beautifully taken portraits, both in and outdoors, depicting criminals named A through L of many ethnicities including but not limited to: Italian,African American,Mexican, Native American, Chinese, and English, booked for all manner of crimes, such as breaking glass on sidewalk, shoplifting, auto prowler, prostitution, Marihuana [sic], mooching, selling phony jewelry, hold up, vagrancy, Navy deserter, and many more. Silver prints, the images measuring approximately 2 1 / 2 x4 1 / 2 inches (6.4x11.4 cm.), with some slightly larger, mounted recto/verso, up to 6 to a page, each with typed captions below identifying the criminal’s crime, hair color, eye color, age, height, weight, complexion, build, occupation, place of birth, date and arresting officers, and sentence. Thick oblong 4to, corduroy and leather covered boards; twin-bolt binding. 1918-28 [7,000/10,000] A large number of the mugshot photographs in this album were taken outdoors, in natural light. The accomplished photographer appears to have connected with his subjects, posing them sitting atop and standing against a brick wall. Certain photographs provide an otherwise unseen glimpse into the lives of the criminals, showing them smiling, gazing longingly into the distance, and on occasion laughing.