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Lot #303
Little Apalachin Mob Conference (2) Original Wirephotos

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Estimate: $250+
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Description

Two original vintage glossy wirephotos related to the 1966 'Little Apalachin' mob conference held at the La Stella restaurant in Queens, where they were subjected to a raid that resulted in the arrest of thirteen top Mafia leaders. The first is a vintage glossy 8.5 x 8 Associated Press wirephoto showing three of those arrested—Carlo Gambino (holding a white coat), Joseph Marcello, and New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello—leaving jail in New York City, with an affixed caption on the reverse, stamp-dated September 24, 1966. This amazing photo of two of the most important mobsters in the United States flew under the radar for some time because the subjects were not identified at the time of publication: the AP caption simply describes them as "three unidentified Cosa Nostra bosses." The image appears in The Chicago Outfit by John J. Binder (Arcadia Publishing, 2003).

Second is a vintage glossy 10.25 x 8 Associated Press wirephoto of several of the 'Little Apalachin' arrestees during their defiant return to La Stella, accompanied by their attorneys, showing Joseph Marcello, Attorney Lew Wasserman, Carlos Marcello, Santo Trafficante, Attorney Frank Ragano, Anthony Carollo, and Frank Gagliano. Stamp-dated October 1, 1966, on the reverse. The mobsters resumed their interrupted meal in an episode staged for their own amusement shortly after their release. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by modern reprints of newspaper articles covering the events.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring Gangsters, Outlaws & Lawmen
  • Dates: #656 - Ended January 11, 2023