1941 Anna Sage “The Woman In Red” Double Crossed John Dillinger Original TYPE I Photo

Anna Sage (1889–1947), born Ana Cumpănaș in Romania, was a brothel operator in Chicago and East Chicago whose cooperation with the FBI led to John Dillinger's death. Facing deportation, she cut a deal with Melvin Purvis, agreeing to finger Dillinger in exchange for leniency. On July 22, 1934, she walked out of the Biograph Theater alongside Dillinger wearing an orange skirt, appearing red under the marquee lights, signaling agents waiting outside. Dillinger was shot dead moments later. The government deported her anyway in 1936, and she died in Romania in 1947.

Offered is an original International News Photo (stamped on back) TYPE I  Photo that measures 8” x 10” in size.  Original paper caption on back basically reads:

“SECRET (E)-- Anna Sage (above), known as "The Woman in Red", who betrayed John Dillinger to the G-Men. She attended a movie in Chicago with Public Enemy No. 1 and "put the finger" on him as they left the theatre. F.B.I. men mowed him down on the street. Mrs. Sage was said to have received $10,000 for the deal. She was afterward deported to Rumania.”

We can count on one hand how many original photos that we’ve seen of “The Woman In Red.”