X Marks the Spot magazine

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(X Marks the Spot Meaning: Place were they were killed or where the dead body was found).

Personally inscribed copy by Hal Andrews

(Mario Gomes Collection)

This edition of X marks the spot is special in the fact that it is signed by none other than the original author of the magazine. He wisely went anonymous when the booklet first went into print back in 1930.The man's name was Harold "Hal" Andrews. He was a newspaper reporter working for different Chicago newspapers (City news Bureau and United press) before settling in with Herald Examiner. In early 1924, Hal was reporting in various crimes committed around Chicago for the United news association. Hal slowly got interested in the criminal aspect of his job and decided to do his part in helping the city clean up it's act. Taking gory photos from the various newpapers he had access to, he published a booklet called X Marks the Spot. In it he describes the many Chicago gangsters and their misdeeds.

X Marks the spot magazine dedicated to Thelma by it's then anonymous author Hal Andrews.

(Mario Gomes Collection)

He kept his name confidential for fear of mob reprisals. This booklet made the gangsters look real bad to the public eye. The magazine got great circulation and it was stated that Al Capone gave the order to his minions to go around all the newspaper stands and remove the offending magazine. Hal wrote a piece for Real Detective magazine criticizing the way moralists from around the country had suppressed the sales of his book due to the gory content. A full page ad was published giving the public the possiblity of getting it through mail order.

Hal's last job was as editor for the Gary Post Tribune. Hal Andrews passed away at the Veterans Hospital on March 14,1961, He was only 62 years old.

Subsequent copycats came along such as Al Capone in Pictures & the Chicago's Gang Wars, In the Morgue, The Gang Wars of Chicago and the rise of the Super Chiefs.

Left : Richard T. Enright's Al Capone one the spot Right : The Life of Al Capone in Pictures and Chicago's gang wars.

(Mario Gomes Collection)

The Morgue; a rare and gruesome magazine with many dead gangsters on the morgue slab.

(Special thanks to Bill Helmer and Tom Prior)

Many shots in this, some already seen with a few rareties.

(Mario Gomes Collection)

About the Magazine

They were sold at different prices.They originally sold at a dollar and then they were lowered down to 50 cents.

Originals are easy to detect. They have a raised feel to the cover and smell really musty with some slight rust to the staples. A real copy in good to fair condition is worth $75.

A signed one by the author is of course considerably quite a bit more.

The X Marks the Spot was reproduced identically decades later in the U.K. by Michael Dunkley. There was no recent printing date mentioned and by leaving in the original 1930 Spot publishing copyright tag, many people had been fooled in thinking these were originals. Some spent hundreds on a mag worth $10 dollars.

They were again reprinted under the title of Chicago Gang Wars by Dremon Press. Totally different quality and look. Blue printing on greyish white thick paper with Al Capone on the front holding a cigar.

This below authentic example of a hard bound X Marks the Spot belonged to "The Shadow" magazine writer and professional magician Walter Brown Gibson. It was part of his large literary collection. I purchased it after his estate was sold off and the magazines and books found various homes through different dealers.

(Mario Gomes Collection)


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Personally inscribed copy by Hal Andrews (Mario Gomes Collection) This edition of X marks the spot is special in the fact that it is signed by none other than the original author of the magazine. He wisely went anonymous when the booklet first went into print back in 1930.The man's name was Harold "Hal" Andrews. He was a newspaper reporter working for different Chicago newspapers (City news Bureau and United press) before settling in with Herald Examiner. In early 1924, Hal was reporting in various crimes committed around Chicago for the United news association. Hal slowly got interested in the criminal aspect of his job and decided to do his part in helping the city clean up it's act. Taking gory photos from the various newpapers he had access to, he published a booklet called X Marks the Spot. In it he describes the many Chicago gangsters and their misdeeds. X Marks the spot magazine dedicated to Thelma by it's then anonymous author Hal Andrews. (Mario Gomes Collection) He kept his name confidential for fear of mob reprisals. This booklet made the gangsters look real bad to the public eye. The magazine got great circulation and it was stated that Al Capone gave the order to his minions to go around all the newspaper stands and remove the offending magazine. Hal wrote a piece for Real Detective magazine criticizing the way moralists from around the country had suppressed the sales of his book due to the gory content. A full page ad was published giving the public the possiblity of getting it through mail order. Hal's last job was as editor for the Gary Post Tribune. Hal Andrews passed away at the Veterans Hospital on March 14,1961, He was only 62 years old. Subsequent copycats came along such as Al Capone in Pictures & the Chicago's Gang Wars, In the Morgue, The Gang Wars of Chicago and the rise of the Super Chiefs. Left : Richard T. Enright's Al Capone one the spot Right : The Life of Al Capone in Pictures and Chicago's gang wars. (Mario Gomes Collection) The Morgue; a rare and gruesome magazine with many dead gangsters on the morgue slab. (Special thanks to Bill Helmer and Tom Prior) Many shots in this, some already seen with a few rareties. (Mario Gomes Collection) About the Magazine They were sold at different prices.They originally sold at a dollar and then they were lowered down to 50 cents. Originals are easy to detect. They have a raised feel to the cover and smell really musty with some slight rust to the staples. A real copy in good to fair condition is worth $75. A signed one by the author is of course considerably quite a bit more. The X Marks the Spot was reproduced identically decades later in the U.K. by Michael Dunkley. There was no recent printing date mentioned and by leaving in the original 1930 Spot publishing copyright tag, many people had been fooled in thinking these were originals. Some spent hundreds on a mag worth $10 dollars. They were again reprinted under the title of Chicago Gang Wars by Dremon Press. Totally different quality and look. Blue printing on greyish white thick paper with Al Capone on the front holding a cigar. This below authentic example of a hard bound X Marks the Spot belonged to "The Shadow" magazine writer and professional magician Walter Brown Gibson. It was part of his large literary collection. I purchased it after his estate was sold off and the magazines and books found various homes through different dealers. (Mario Gomes Collection)