Description:

BENJAMIN 'BUGSY' SIEGEL
(1906 – 1947) American mobster who was a driving force behind the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Siegel was influential within the Jewish Mob, along with his childhood friend and fellow gangster Meyer Lansky, and he also held significant influence within the Mafia and the largely Italian-Jewish National Crime Syndicate. Siegel was one of the founders and leaders of Murder, Inc. and became a bootlegger during Prohibition. After a stint as a hitman in Los Angeles, he moved to Las Vegas where he financed the Flamingo Hotel. With no hotel attached to the casino until a year later, the business floundered after two months. Accused of skimming building funds, Siegel was shot through the head as he sat in his girlfriend's living room. An extraordinary signed piece, a snapshot photograph of the newly-opened Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, signed by Siegel at bottom: 'Ben Siegel'. An absolutely unique piece, the 3.5 in. x 2.5 in. photo shows the famous Flamingo from across Las Vegas Boulevard, its sign clearly visible and with several luxury cars parked in front. The image displays water staining which originated from the verso, barely affecting Siegel's signature. It is captioned on verso in another hand: 'Hotel Flamingo and club. Million Dollar nite club. owner 'Bugsey Siegel' Las Vegas Nev', which notably is how newsmen of the day spelled Siegel's much-hated nickname. In 2009 this piece was purchased from a descendant of one Herman Lee, himself a retired hotel owner. An email from that descendant, a police officer in California (copy included), offers details on Lee and the photo, stating that Lee had worked on the construction of the Flamingo, and that the photo was signed at the end of 1946. It remained in this man's family's possession until it was sold. There is also a copy of the 2009 bill of sale for the photo, and the text of Herman Lee's obituary. A small copy of Siegel's signed passport, the signature matching perfectly, is also present. A fantastic and unique association piece.

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*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000