Vintage Mug Shots

Early 20th century vintage silver print mug shots. The use of photography in the justice system became prevalent later in the 19th century, as they felt the documentation of physical traits could help predict criminal tendencies. Alphonse Bertillion, a clerk in the Parisian police department developed the mug shot, a format which features a frontal and profile image of the subject. Coupled with a system of identifying facial measurements, this tracking system was adopted by the Chicago Police Department in 1894.

Typed print on verso reads: "$50 Reward $50 / Escape / Tom Holt No. 7312 / alias John Henry Allen, Tom Tracy / Received September 19, 1940 from Crawford County, to a term of 10-21 years for the crime of Robbery 1st Degree, Escaped March 25, 1954...Warden Kansas State Pentitentiary / Lansing, Kansas."

From the collection of Police Chief Michael Webb (1950-2009). Webb joined the Vinita Park, Missouri police force in 1974 and served until his death in 2009, during which time he purchased crime artifacts from relatives of criminals and law officers. Boasting more than 8,000 wanted posters, pieces of Webb’s collection have been featured in film and displayed at the National Crime and Punishment Museum in Washington.

Measuring approximately 3.5 x 5.5, this photograph is in very good condition, with a piece of adhesive on top edge, light, scattered surface lines and a set of staple marks.