Lot 1695

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Description:

JAMES EARL RAY "ALIAS" WANTED POSTER
Rare original wanted poster, 10 1/4" x 16", issued by the FBI on April 17, 1968, seeking information leading to the arrest of JAMES EARL RAY (1928-1998), the assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on charges of "Civil Rights - Conspiracy". This poster, identified as "Wanted Flyer 442", was circulated thirteen days after the assassination, and names the suspect as Eric Starvo Galt, an alias of Ray''s, under which he had sought to establish himself as a director of pornographic films while living in Mexico. It prints two versions of a headshot of Ray in a tuxedo, the original with his eyes closed and the second with his eyes added by an artist. The poster goes on to list two additional aliases used by Ray, although his true identity remains unknown at this point. It further lists his supposed age, physical features, claimed occupation as a seaman, and several other known facts about the suspect ("...reportedly is a lone wolf; allegedly attended dance instruction school; has reportedly completed course in bartending...") Below this appears the warning: "Galt is sought in connection with a murder wherein the victim was shot. Consider armed and extremely dangerous," with a statement that a warrant was issued in Birmingham on the date this poster was circulated. The facsimile signature of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover appears at the conclusion, and the address of each FBI office in the country appears on the verso. The verso also bears the printed address of the postmaster of North Wilbraham, Massachusetts, where this poster was intended to be displayed. It shows some damp stains overall, else very good. By the time this poster would have been circulated, Ray had fled to Toronto, where he would remain until June before travelling to London, only to be arrested at Heathrow airport while trying to enter the country using a forged passport.

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April 18, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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$100 $499 $20
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$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 + $10,000