1957 Mafia Godfather Crime Boss Albert Anastasia Original TYPE I Photo

Albert Anastasia (1902–1957) was one of the most feared figures in American organized crime. Born Umberto Anastasio in Calabria, Italy, he rose from the Brooklyn waterfront to become a powerful Mafia boss and helped control the National Crime Syndicate’s enforcement organization, Murder, Inc., earning the nickname “Lord High Executioner.” He later became boss of the crime family that eventually became known as the Gambino family. Anastasia also wielded enormous influence over New York’s longshoremen and waterfront unions. On October 25, 1957, he was famously assassinated by two gunmen while sitting in a barber chair at Manhattan’s Park Sheraton Hotel.

Albert Anastasia’s October 28, 1957 funeral was surprisingly modest for one of America’s most powerful mob bosses. Following services at Brooklyn’s Torregrossa Funeral Home, Anastasia was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery with only a small group of relatives and friends present. Police and federal authorities closely watched the funeral home, hoping to identify prominent underworld figures, reportedly discouraging many mobsters from attending. Among the family mourners was Anastasia’s brother Anthony “Tough Tony” Anastasio, a powerful International Longshoremen’s Association official who controlled Brooklyn’s waterfront Local 1814. Tony was reportedly devastated by his brother’s assassination and remained influential on the docks until his death in 1963.

Offered is an original double weight TYPE I photo that measures 9” x 7” in size of Anastasia’s funeral.  Though this is an original press photo of Anastasia’s funeral the press tag indicates erroneously Anthony Anastasia in said photo. He does not appear at all. It is probable that the folks at the paper put the wrong tags on the photos accidentally.

Super Rare Historic Shot!