AUTHENTIC NEW YORK MAFIA BOSS JOSEPH BONANNO HAND SIGNED MEMBER CARD.

Totally authentic original fine hand signed membership card by mafia New York crime boss Joe Bonanno. BONANNO JOSEPH: (1905-2002) Italian-born American mafia crime boss who was active between 1931 and 1968 as head of the infamous Bonanno crime family of New York City. D.S., Joseph Bonanno, being his personal oblong 12mo membership card for the Knights of Columbus, December 1987. The partially printed green, red and blue card certifies that Bonanno is a 3rd Degree Member (Number 0365842) and that his dues have been paid up to 31st December 1987. With two small gold-coloured stickers neatly affixed to the lower left corner, one stating that Bonanno is a 35-year member. Signed by Bonanno at the foot bold and clear and also bearing two countersignatures (one rubber stamped). The verso lists two individuals, including his daughter Catherine, who should be contacted in case of an accident or illness. VG The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal service order that was founded in 1882 for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States. Please note the photo of Joe Bonanno dose not come with the sale of the card and is for reference only and all import taxes will be paid by the buyer. This card would look amazing framed for display. Size of card- 90mm x 55mm, Condition – very good indeed
The Bonanno Crime family was known as the Maranzano crime family until its founder Salvatore Maranzano was murdered in 1931. Joseph Bonanno was awarded most of Maranzano's operations when Charles "Lucky" Luciano oversaw the creation of the Commission to divide up criminal enterprises in New York City among the Five Families following the Castellammarese War. Under the leadership of Bonanno between the 1930s and 1960s, the family was one of the most powerful in the United States. By the 1960s, the Bonanno family held significant interests in the Fulton Fish Market, the Garment District, and Kennedy International Airport. Additionally, the family maintained close ties to the Sicilian Mafia, with whom it orchestrated the importation of billions of dollars' worth of heroin into the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century.

Joe Bonanno was born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, where his father was also involved in organized crime. At the age of 3, Bonanno emigrated to New
York with his family, where he lived for about ten years, before moving back to Italy. He later slipped back into the United States in 1924, stowing away on a Cuban fishing boat bound for Tampa, Florida. After the Castellammarese War, during which Salvatore Maranzano was murdered in 1931, Bonanno reorganized most of Maranzano's crime family as the Bonanno family. At age 26, Bonanno became one of the youngest-ever bosses of a crime family.
During the Castellammarese War, between 1930 and 1931, Maranzano and Bonanno fought against a rival group based in Brooklyn, led by Joe Masseria and Giuseppe Morello. " However, a third secret faction soon emerged, composed of younger mafiosi on both sides. These younger mafiosi were disgusted with the old-world predilections of Masseria, Maranzano and other old-line mafiosi, whom they called "Mustache Pete’s." This group of
"Young Turk" mafiosi was led by Masseria's second-in-command, Lucky Luciano, and included Frank Costello, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis, Carlo Gambino and Albert Anastasia on Masseria's side and Joe Profaci, Tommy Gagliano, Tommy Lucchese, Joseph Magliocco and Stefano Magaddino on Maranzano's. Although Bonanno was more steeped in the old-school traditions of "honour", "tradition", "respect" and "dignity" than other mafiosi of his generation, he saw the need to modernize and joined forces with the Young Turks.