Hello, I'm looking for a little help. I've just recently purchased a collection of items related to Vincent Gigante. Another several pieces in the collection was a photograph of Gigante and his dance instructor from the early 1950's. On the back of the photo, it's written "Olympia and I was very grateful....Vincent Gigante". I was wondering first off, how rare his signature is? And if anyone could help with somehow verify it.

I have one of his finger paintings that he made at Bellevue. But he signed it Barry Goldwater.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the guys at "Pawn Stars." I'm pretty hopeful because Rick Harrison seems like a bit of a wannabe.

That's interesting. I know a guy that has a painting by Pete Licavoli. It's a really shitty painting of a clown.

George - You have to find a sample of Gigante's signature or writing somewhere. Since he has passed on it seems like you'd have to go to the family. Then you'd have to take that sample to a hand writing expert for comparison.

One more idea is that it seems like there would be a sample of his writing or his signature somewhere on a legal document. He has had plenty of cases. The courts keep all those papers somewhere.

Even if he went through all of that rigmarole, it would still be tough to verify. Vince would have been about 25 years old at the time, and signatures change over the course of a lifetime. I doubt the Feds have anything that dates that far back.

It would have to be through the Gigante family, and they're not nearly as publicity friendly as some of their counterparts. They ain't the Mob Wives. Because the day the wife and daughter of a Genovese soldier show up on that retarded show, then you'll know it's time to turn everything over to the Crips and the Bloods.

(Sorry for going slightly off topic, but I hate the very idea of that fucking television show).

If you are looking to sell the photo this is going to be a tough one for you. Without a COA (Certificate of Authenticity),or some documentation from the seller,which I'm assuming you don't have,or else you wouldn't be asking,there's not much you can do.

I have a small collectible resale business and use PSA on occasion to authenticate cards,coins,and autographs.
Just for fun I searched for Gigante on their autograph data base and they don't have an entry,which means they can't check it against anything. A Gotti or Gambino signature can be verified by them ($100 and $50 respectively) but nothing for poor Chin.

If you just want to know for your own sake,you would need a known signature that you could compare. In that case a graphologist could give you an opinion. However ,if you are looking to sell it as authentic,you will need more than that.

From my experience,the potential selling price of a professionally authenticated Gigante autograph might not even cover the cost of the authentication.
He's just not in the category of high dollar autographs.

Strictly up to you,but if you want to post more info as far as how you came upon the picture,maybe myself or another poster can give you some input. Either way,best of luck.Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone for the info. Some history on the items....I was contacted by a gentleman who's mother worked at Fred Astaire's Dance Studio in New York City during the 50's and 60's. His mom has since passed away, but always told stories about mob guys including Gigante coming in for lessons. When she passed, he found an envelope among her belongings and said "mob stuff". The envelope included a lot of paperwork from the dance studio, a dance studio letterhead signed by Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Jr, an 8X10 photo of some guys and girls sitting at dinner at a restaurant in Greenwich Village NYC, another 8x10 restaurant picture that's has a handwritten message to the mother, from a guy call "Sully". The seller told me he recalls his mother telling him it was an Irish mobster by the last name of Sullivan. The lot also included a cover photo of Gigante dancing with the mother. On the back of that photo is the Gigante message to the mother and his signature. The other very interesting item in the collection was a small cardboard box with a .38cal bullet inside. On the inside cover of the box is a message to the mother (Maureen) , that saids "Moe, Vinny will always have you back" signed "Mario G". The mother told the seller, Mario was Gigante's brother, who also used to come in for lessons.

Maybe this guy can help you?

http://nypost.com/2014/08/11/injured-worker-seeking-compensation-says-mafioso-had-his-back/

Pretty cool story.What a great display this will make for the living room or the mancave. For us mob buff posters,this stuff is like finding a Mickey Mantle rookie card in a thrift store. Thanks for sharing the story with us.

@George....Can you post the pictures up on here or is that asking too much?

lol...pretty funny!!!

Lou_Para...it really is fun searching for these things. Its like a treasure hunt for me. I plan on keeping the collection together and displaying it somehow.

njcapo35....I have pictures, I'd love to post them on the forum, I'm just not to certain on how to post pictures on here.

i'm sure it's scribble but gigante was a slick mothafucka

I actually watched a video on YouTube with Vinny Vella talking to Rita Gigante and other than that show being pathetic, one of the few things I learned from it was that the chin was a horrible dancer. According to Rita, he had two left feet but occasionally they'd dance to Elvis. Not that this will help but..

Thanks Holyoke !!! I'm gonna check that out now. I was thinking about reading her book as well.

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Actually, I forgot about Rita. She's so fucking "out there," that if you can track her down on social media she'll probably help you. Tell her that the proceeds are going to the LGBT community. She'll be putty in your hands .

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OK - I figured out how to post pictures. The women in the picture is the dance instructor.

Rita has the ability to interact to talk to dead people and know what they are thinking etc. you gotta watch that interview I mentioned, if you can get through the first minute or 2. It's such a horrible show. I feel bad for the 2 girls that are there as his "sidekicks". According to Vinny Vella his show is watched by millions and Rita would talk about her spiritual connections. Fucking pathetic.

Vinny's crazier than Rita. And that's really saying something .

That is saying something. Vinny is old and deaf and slow but, Rita really believes she has more of a relationship with her father now more than she did when he was alive. Hey, to each is there own and whatever helps you sleep at night. I'm not smelling what she's stepping in.

Hey PB, maybe the Mob is putting the squeeze on the ladies and bilking VH1 for millions!! ...Just Kidding

Really do not think the photo is Chin. I was raised in the village and know the whole family. My Dad used to shoot crap's with Vincent in the street back in the 40's and my Mom danced with Vincent at his 8th grade graduation from PS3 in the Village. Steve McQueen also went to PS3 and was good friend's w/Chin.

Downtown...I really believe it to be him. And the story provided by the seller, along with the everything else in the collection checks out.

George, I hope that you are right, and that I'am wrong. Maybe the person that you received the items from can give you detail's as to their origin. Good Luck, DT.

There are a ton of pics of chin from the late 50s Costello shooting. Does not look like him, maybe it's Mario. Also the sully could probably be john Sullivan who was very tight w the genovese and according to mad dog Sullivan was responsible for the caponigro hit. Only a guess tho

Christy_Tic....based on some addition info I recover with the lot I purchased I believe the year would be 1952. I located a dance schedule, among paper with the names "V.Gigante" and M.Gigante" handwritten presumably by the dance instructor. Also, I'll post the picture of "Sully" I have. Maybe someone will recognize him. Thanks !!!