Authentic John Dillinger Death Mask Historical Dillinger Artifact

This death mask is the real deal, it is an authentic and genuine historical artifact, it is NOT A COPY! Dillinger Slain by Purvis & G' Men at Movie House! Desperado Dies with Revolver in Hand in Lincoln Avenue trap. That's one of the headline banners from a Chicago newspaper on the otherwise typical hot and sticky Chicago morning, Monday July 23, 1934. The night before, Sunday July 22, 1934 Notorious Outlaw & Bank Robber John Herbert Dillinger the arch nemesis of Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover and legendary "G-man" Melvin Purvis, Special Agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office of the then Bureau of Investigation (the word Federal was added later) was shot dead as he left the Biograph Theatre (see photo) at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago, IL. John Dillinger was accompanied that fateful night by alleged prostitute Polly Hamilton and the infamous "Lady in Red" (which was actually orange another of the many Dillinger myths) Anna Sage, the Romanian Brothel owner and Madame who actually betrayed Dillinger by alerting Bureau of Investigation agents to his whereabouts. Shortly after viewing the gangster film "Manhattan Melodrama" while exiting the theatre Dillinger AKA "Public Enemy #1" was shot and killed after resisting and fleeing arrest by the Bureau of Investigation Special Agents. First a little bit about this rare true crime historical artifact. Shortly after John Dillinger's death several "Death Masks" were made using the slain outlaw's corpse to make the impression. Accounts vary as to how many, but the number may go as high as 13 or 14 depending on which account is true. It is a fact that masks were created by at least three groups of people with various intentions, ranging from scientific to historical and at least a few with a somewhat darker motive... ghoulish greed. I don't know which of the groups produced this mask, but I do know it is genuine and authentic and truly a part of 1930's American history and true crime culture. From my personal research I am only aware of four authentic Dillinger Masks in existence. During that research I spoke with many people who had first hand knowledge of the events, Dillinger and the mask. Including surviving members of John Dillinger’s family many of whom sill live in Indiana. Everyone I interviewed and allowed to examine the mask confirmed it to be authentic including members of Dillinger’s family who had already viewed both masks at the museum in Crown Point, Indiana of which this mask is one of. One was in the custody of the Chicago Police Department until it was "liberated" by agents of the FBI and given to J. Edgar Hoover for his collection which included among other things the pistol found on Dillinger's body and the straw hat he was wearing at the time of his death. I believe that mask can still be viewed at FBI Headquarters to this day. I remember seeing it during my own tour of FBI HQ in 1972. During my research of this artifact I visited the Chicago Police Museum, in Chicago which was run by The Chicago Patrolman's Association (see photo). In a candid interview I conducted with the then curator of the museum, I was told that the mask on display there was actually a copy supplied by FBI agents after they "confiscated" the real one to give to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover for his own Dillinger display in his outer office. That piece of information was verified by Chicago FBI agents that examined this mask for me. The third and fourth masks were on display at "The Jail Era Museum" which was housed in the old Crown Point, Indiana jail. This is one of the two masks from that display. The other was sold at auction for $15,000.00. This mask that you are now looking at comes with the original wood box it has been in for many years and was part of the museum display (see photo) and a Dillinger wanted poster which is professionally custom framed in “free float” style between two pieces of glass. The year 1934 can be seen on the back of the mask (see photo) Also included is a Letter of Authenticity (see photo) signed by Mr. Ernest L. Reedstrom on 10 May 1992. Mr. Reedstrom was the curator of the John Dillinger Museum in Crown Point, Indiana. During his tenure as curator of the John Dillinger Museum Mr. Reedstrom had both masks from the exhibit authenticated by several nationally known experts, Dillinger historians and Purdue University faculty members in Indiana well versed in the dental impression material of the 1930’s which was used to create this death mask. The jail made famous by John Dillinger when it was the Lake County, Indiana Jail. On March 3, 1934 Dillinger displaying a whittled gun, colored black with shoe polish made a daring escape from that facility taking with him prisoner Herbert Youngblood as an accomplice and two hostages, jail employee's Ed Saager & Ernest Blunk. To add insult to injury Dillinger stole the fastest automobile in the County, which happened to be the official car belonging to Sheriff Lillian Holley. The Crown Point, Indiana jail that Dillinger escaped from was recently featured in the new Michael Mann / Johnny Depp Dillinger motion picture “Public Enemies”. This Dillinger death mask is authentic, however the included wanted poster is a professional period reproduction. It is aged and very well done with a superb custom professional frame job, but never the less just a period reproduction. However, it does lend nicely to display with this authentic historical artifact. We have had this mask authenticated by FBI agents from the organized crime strike force in Chicago, IL one of whom happened to be the agent that conducted my 1972 FBI Headquarters tour and was very familiar with the mask in Director Hoover’s office which he saw every day during his tenure as tour director during his early career with the bureau. All of the agents who examined the mask were able to confirm it to be one of the authentic Dillinger death masks that were slipped out of the Cook County Illinois coroner’s office in the confusion after the shooting. Neither the FBI nor the Chicago Police Department are sure exactly how many Dillinger death mask impressions were made, but best estimates put the number at no more than 13 or 14. The popular new Michael Mann / Johnny Depp / Christian Bale Hollywood Motion Picture about these events and others in the relatively short but wild 18 month reign of terror by the Dillinger gang and other post depression era bank robbers along with the relentless pursuit by the FBI (then known only as The Bureau of Investigation) has brought a worldwide resurgence of interest in this period of history. At check out our system will show that you are paying for US Priority Mail shipping, however the mask, the framed poster and letter of authenticity will actually be shipped via FedEx Overnight Express within the U.S. or FedEx Worldwide outside the United States. The artifact and other items will of course be professionally packaged and insured for the full purchase amount. If you have questions regarding this historical artifact or other items don’t hesitate to e-mail us. Many more high resolution photos from various angles and full spectrum lighting can be e-mailed for examination to serious buyers upon request. Click on the photo to image at full 100% resolution. You should be able to clearly read the letter of authenticity at full resolution. If you have questions don't hesitate to ask via our contact e-mail. This item will ship via FedEx next day air fully insured.