A collection of memorabilia from the career of legendary US crime fighter Eliot Ness is to sell as a single lot in a September 27 sale at Central Mass Auctions.
 The signed credentials offered are believed to be the only extant example |
Eliot Ness made his name as head of a special unit dubbed "The Untouchables" during the prohibition era, where he played a large part in bringing down the crime syndicate of notorious mobster Al Capone. The unit gained its name after turning down repeated bribes from Capone, which Ness made public to gain media attention after reforming his corrupt department.
His remarkable career has been well documented in various TV series and comic books, and inspired the 1987 Oscar-winning movie The Untouchables, which starred Kevin Costner as Ness and Robert De Niro as Capone.
The items offered include Ness' 1932 signed credentials as an officer of the United States Prohibition Service, which are believed to be the only known example. They will be sold ina single lot alongside photographs and brochures from his unsuccessful Cleveland mayoral campaign, and a range of telegrams and Christmas cards sent by Ness to the consignor, Winifred Higgins Knorr.
Knorr served as Ness' personal secretary during his illustrious period as Cleveland safety director, although it is not certain how she acquired the items, which are to be sold directly from her estate. The complete collection has been given a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-50,000.
Collectors will have the chance to bid on Al Capone's famous armoured Cadillac on July 28, when it hopes to beat the $621,500 it achieved back in 2006.
If you have any similar items that you would like to sell, PFC Auctions is accepting consignments for its upcoming sale until the end of July. Click here for further information.
