Lucania, Salvatore (Lucky Luciano)

Autograph letter signed ("Charlie L."), 3 pages (8 5/8 x 6 1/8 in.; 218 x 157 mm), Rome, 13 October 1947, to John D. Sullivan, with autograph envelope with full signature ("Salvatore Lucania") with return address on back flap.

Mobster writes to his prison officer. Salvatore Lucania who changed his name to Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, is widely considered the father of organized crime. Due to the efforts of special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey, Luciano was convicted on charges of leading one of the largest prostitution rings in American history. In 1936, Luciano was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison. While serving time at Great Meadows Prison, officer John D. Sullivan was put in charge of Luciano and  drove him to Manhattan regularly to meet with Dewey. In 1946, as a reward for his presumed wartime cooperation in providing Mafia assistance to the Office of Naval Intelligence, Luciano was paroled and deported to Sicily. On 13 October 1947, he writes to his old prison officer.

Luciano begins, "I guess this letter will surprise you, by hearing from me." He notes he met with "Peanuts in Naples" and was brought up to date on  all his questions. He then explains why he is writing: " . . . I thought I'd drop you a line, because in the four years that I have known you, I always thought and still think that your [sic] a nice guy." He notes he doesn't know what he can tell him, " . . .you read enough papers so I don't have to tell you where I've been or where I am, but the rest is a lot of Bull S. but I'm having a nice time and enjoying good health." He closes his letter sending his regards to a couple of  men working for Sullivan and quips, "send plenty of food to the kitchen and feed the boys ha ha."