Lot 149

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Description:

Jimmy Hoffa Signed New Year's Photo Also Featuring Ex-Friend & Possible Murder Accomplice Chuckie O'Brien

A wonderful vintage photograph loosely contained within a mat and original wrapper from the Manhattan Supper Club in Detroit, Michigan, ca. January 1, 1957. Union organizer Jimmy Hoffa (1913-1975?) has signed the left edge of the photo mat as "JR Hoffa." The mat is also signed by nine other individuals, among them Jimmy's wife Josephine Hoffa née Poszywak (1918-1980) as "Jo Jo Hoff" along the right edge; and by Jimmy's onetime foster son and possible Judas, Charles "Chuckie" O'Brien (1933-2020) as "Chuck" along the left edge directly beneath Hoffa's signature.

The mat is captioned "New Years [sic] Jan 1, 1957" at top. The glossy black and white photograph showing holiday revelers measures 5" x 7" and is currently detached from both the mat and original wrapper (evenly spaced red dots only visible on the underside of the mat indicate that it was once glued to the bottom wrapper.) The photo edges are slightly wrinkled. The top and right edges of the photo mat are discolored red. The front cover of the wrapper is unevenly stained from water damage. Else very good to near fine. The wrapper measures 8.625" x 6.375" overall.

Jimmy Hoffa, his wife Jo, and friend Chuck, accompanied by other friends Sophie, Maryann, Dot, Ruth, Ray, Pea, and Nlova (?) rang in the New Year of 1957 in style at the Manhattan Super Club, a Detroit hangout known for its novelty acts, such as all-blonde dancers. Jimmy is seated at left, the second from the front, and Chuckie is at his right. Jimmy's wife Jo is seated across the table wearing the light-colored conical party hat.

1957 was a momentous year in Jimmy Hoffa's life; he would be elected president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at IBT's annual convention (September 30 - October 5, 1957) before the year was out. Having served as IBT's vice president since 1952, Hoffa was well-prepared for the presidency; he would act as IBT's president until 1971. Hoffa went missing in 1975 and was declared legally dead in 1982.

Charles "Chuckie" O'Brien considered himself Hoffa's foster son, and he was Hoffa's inseparable companion and business associate after 1952. After Hoffa's election as IBT's president, O'Brien became Hoffa's special assistant. The pair had a falling out in 1974, and the FBI later theorized that O'Brien chauffeured Hoffa to the mafia ambush where he was probably killed. In the 2019 Netflix drama "The Irishman," Al Pacino portrayed Jimmy Hoffa while Jesse Plemons depicted Chuckie O'Brien.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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March 3, 2021 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000