Extremely rare vintage textured matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of Chicago Outfit icon Al Capone in a relaxed, seated pose, neatly signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To My Friend Joe Cook, Al Capone.” Affixed to a same-size contemporary cardstock mount and in fine condition, with a light crease to the upper left, and the salutation a couple of shades light. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.
The fantastic image reveals the duality of Al Capone, who assumes a left-facing pose to hide the long scar on his cheek that gave rise to his famous nickname, 'Scarface.' To some, Capone was a folk hero—sponsoring soup kitchens, patronizing the arts, and contributing to all manner of charitable endeavors. To others, he was a ruthless villain—hellbent on dominating Chicago's bootlegging and vice industries by any means necessary. In this remarkable autographed portrait, the well-kept Capone looks more like a choir boy than a cold-blooded killer. Capone's autograph is scarce in any format, and especially so in signed photographs—this is the only photo of this size ever offered at auction.
