Criminal Autographs
After a major crime is committed, the culprit is usually locked behind bars and autograph privileges become restricted. Many states have enacted laws that ban a criminal from selling and profiting from items having their autograph. As a result, obtaining an autograph from an infamous criminal may be very challenging, if not impossible.On rare occasion, autographs from Charles Manson become available, either as a signed legal document or as a handwritten letter that was written prior to his involvement in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders. Documents with Manson"s signature have been sold for the thousands of dollars. However, reprints of Manson autographs that can be displayed in a home or office are available for a fraction of the cost of an original signature.
Original autographs of mafia personalities such as Meyer Lansky, Joseph Bonanno, Charles Solomon, Roy DeMeo and others make wonderful display pieces. These mafia figures were at one time some of the most powerful businessmen on the planet. Original mafia autographs can be quite expensive, but autograph reprints that are virtually indistinguishable to an original can generate fascination and conversation when properly displayed.
Some collectors are fascinated with the exploits of Bonnie and Clyde. Their gang terrorized the Midwest United States and become well known for their string of bank robberies. Autographs from members of the legendary Bonnie & Clyde gang, including Blanche (Barrow) Frasure, are available to collectors.
Those who are unwilling or unable to appreciate the significance of remembering a negative event often discard contemporaneous criminal autographs. However, criminal autographs serve as paper trails that remind us of the existence of heinous crimes and unsavory characters.