Description:

'LEOPOLD AND LOEB' FINGERPRINT CARDS
A pair of important crime relics, named fingerprint cards, each 8 x 8 in., bearing the prints of convicted murderers NATHAN LEOPOLD (1904-1971) and his co-defendant and alleged lover, RICHARD LOEB (1905-1936), taken on the first day they were remanded to prison to commence their life sentences. The pair were students at the University of Chicago who kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago on May 21, 1924. They committed the murder – characterized at the time as 'the crime of the century' – hoping to demonstrate their superior intellect, which they believed enabled and entitled them to carry out a 'perfect crime' without consequences. The cards each bear the convict's name, prisoner number from Stateville Prison in Joliet, Illinois, and ten very clear prints. SOLD WITH: Leopold's 4.75 x 3 in. Joliet prison mug shot (two views) from 1958. The reverse of the mug shot contains Leopold's crime and sentence, physical information, distinguishing marks, charges, intended residence after release, etc. Also included is: a 2.5 x 4 in. side view mug shot of Loeb in prison garb, with him identified on verso; a ca. 1935 8 x 10 in. press photo showing the pair being examined at prison (photo trimmed); photocopies of the prison descriptive sheets for each; and a copy of an image of Loeb following his murder. These fingerprint cards are not booking documents, but rather sets of prints maintained on file at Joliet and likely kept with the prisoners' admission and personnel documents. Leopold and Loeb, defended by none other than Clarence Darrow, rank among the most notorious murderers in world history.

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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