Skip to product information
1 of 2

Lot 167 - Antique Real-Photo Prison Mugshot and Bertillon Card for Shelby C. Pelly, Farmer, Crime Horse Stealing, Mclean County, Illinois State Penitentiary, Received 1904, Paroled 1906

Lot 167 - Antique Real-Photo Prison Mugshot and Bertillon Card for Shelby C. Pelly, Farmer, Crime Horse Stealing, Mclean County, Illinois State Penitentiary, Received 1904, Paroled 1906

Sold For: Login to See Price
This is a state penitentiary Bertillon card featuring a mounted photograph depicting Shelby C. Pelly in profile and frontal views, with the number 9004 visible on the profile photograph. The card includes Bertillon measurements taken at the Illinois State Penitentiary. Pelly is listed as age 28. The descriptive fields on the front for forehead, nose, right ear, beard, hair, complexion, weight, and build are not filled in.

The reverse bears a pre-printed "Massachusetts State Prison" header that has been crossed out, with "Ill. State Pen." written above. Registration number 9004. The card lists the county as McLean, crime as horse stealing, and occupation as farmer. The alias, sentence, descent, and former imprisonment fields are blank. Received 11/5/04, paroled 7/30/06. Marks, scars, and moles are noted as a dim scar on the bridge of the nose and a scar above the right knee.

The card shows toning and light soiling consistent with age.
Dimensions: 6" W x 6" H

Auction Date: 05/14/2026

View full details