Lot 123

(AMERICAN CRIME)

A collection of 28 mugshots of suspected and convicted sneak thieves, forgers, housebreakers, and more, mostly in New York.

This selection including 7 pristine early carte-de-visite-size mugshots and 21 diptychs. A group of photographs of individuals, mostly men with a few women (including African American subjects), suspected mostly of crimes such as burglary, forgery, and theft, two having committed more serious crimes of kidnapping and murder. The majority of the cards from the Police Department of the City of New York with a few from Washington D.C., Boston, and Scranton. Silver (21) and printing-out paper (7) prints, 21 diptychs measuring approximately 4x5 inches (10.2x12.7 cm.), and slightly smaller, and 7 carte-de-visite-size mugshots measuring 3¾x2¼ inches (9.5x5.7 cm.), each mounted to Bertillion or identification cards, with handwritten or copy printed information on the suspects, including the suspect's name, identifying characteristics, crime, occupation, and date of arrest; accompanied by 8 original blue envelopes with printed arrest numbers and some with research associated with the crimes and arrest records from period sources; in a contemporary binder. 1895-1908