Description:

Barrow Clyde 1909 - 1934
Bonnie & Clyde period "Wanted" poster and death photos documenting fatal Louisiana ambush.

Bonnie & Clyde archive comprised of apparently period photos of the dead couple and their car; as well as a "Wanted" poster issued days before their death.

Group of four photographs, three 8" x 10" sepia tone and one later black and white, documenting the deaths of notorious bank robbers Bonnie Parker (1910-1934) and Clyde Barrow (1909-1934). Three of the four photos appear to be vintage copies made at the time of the fugitives' deaths. The photos are very graphic; one shows the bullet-ridden exterior of the stolen "Death Car"; two show post-mortem views of Bonnie and Clyde taken after autopsies and during the embalming process; and one shows Clyde Barrow's bullet-shredded jacket. Condition varies, but generally good or better with slight soft creasing.

The manhunt for Bonnie & Clyde ended on May 23, 1934 at approximately 9:15 a.m. when the couple was gunned down by a handful of Texas and Louisiana lawmen. The posse had been tracking the Barrow gang since May 21st, the day our "Wanted" poster was issued. After spotting Barrow's car, the lawmen opened fire, killing Barrow and Parker and shooting a combined total of about 130 rounds. Barrow was killed instantly, but one lawman reported hearing Parker scream. Any one of the many wounds suffered by Bonnie and Clyde would have been fatal. Accounts vary as to the total tally of bullet wounds found on each bandit's body. Officially, parish coroner Dr. J. L. Wade's 1934 report listed 17 separate entrance wounds on Barrow's body and 26 on Parker's, including several headshots on each, and one that had snapped Barrow's spinal column. Undertaker C. F. "Boots" Bailey had difficulty embalming the bodies because of all the bullet holes.

Accompanied by a vintage 1934 double-sided "Wanted" poster of Bonnie & Clyde designed to be distributed throughout the United States via mail service. Cream colored stock paper measuring 8" x 8" printed recto with photos, names, aliases, physical descriptions, and family members of Bonnie and Clyde. Integral address leaf verso left with "Division of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice" return address and list of Special Agent addresses and telephone extensions verso right. In near fine condition with light overall toning and minor edge browning particularly to lower right corner.

The "Wanted" poster, identification order no. 1227, was issued by J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Division of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice on May 21, 1934, just two days before Bonnie and Clyde were killed in a police ambush in Louisiana. The official charge was theft of a motor vehicle, although Bonnie and Clyde were "also wanted in connection with assault and [the] murder of officers". The stolen car precipitating this "Wanted" poster, a Ford V-8 coupe taken from Effingham, Illinois around September 1932, was like the one the couple were later killed in.

"Clyde Champion Barrow and Bonnie Parker constantly travel together and extreme caution must be exercised", the poster instructed. If there was any doubt as to Bonnie and Clyde's identities, they could be recognized by bullet and burn wound scars sustained during the pair's slew of assaults, kidnappings, robberies, prison breaks, and murders during the last two years.

A sensational archive of crime memorabilia!

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