Melvin Purvis photo - Secret Operators Patrol Premium - 1937

Description

Offered for sale is a photograph of Melvin Purvis, Chief Secret Operator of the Law and Order Patrol.
Members of the Law and Order Patrol could get a copy of this photo “Free for 2 Post Toasties package-tops.”, by sending the box tops the Melvin Purvis c/o Post Toasties, Battle Creek, Michigan. The offer expired December 31, 1937.
An inscription and autograph printed as part of the photo reads: “Greetings from Headquarters, Melvin Purvis”.
Melvin Purvis was a Special Agent of the Bureau of Investigation, which became the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the 1930s and was involved in investigations related to a number of the well-known gangsters and criminals of that era. These individuals included: Roger Touhy, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger.
After Purvis left the FBI he was associated with General Foods which promoted its Post Toasties cereal with the Melvin Purvis Junior G-Man Corps, of which Purvis was “Chief Special-Agent-In-Charge”, and subsequently the Law and Order Patrol, of which Purvis was “Chief Secret Operator”. Badges, and a variety of other toys, for these two organizations could be purchased by children by redeeming cereal box-tops from Post Toasties.
The photo is printed on an 8 x 10 inch page. This is a rare item as many of these photos have not survived over the years.
This photo is in very good condition. It has a small mark on the center bottom border and on the upper right edge of the border. These are visible in the photographs.