![Part of an archive of forensic photography created between 1910 and 1964. This image is one of a series of 15 negtives contained in box no. 1471-1485. Underworld exhibition text: GIOVANNI LUCCI, circa 1926 Suspected of attempted safebreaking Lucci led an Italian gang, of which Borri and Martini were members, believed to have broken into safes across Sydney. The men were caught attempting to open a bank vault using tools they had manufactured specially for the job. All three served prison time before being deported. In the NSW Police Camorra file, which focused on Mafia-like organisations, Lucci is noted as someone to keep an eye on during his journey back to Italy. See also series FP19_0020 which shows the Italian safe breakers tools. *** Local Caption *** For further research see TRIM F2016/2371. Attributed date is based on other images from the series (1926) - EM 1926 'A CLUE AND ITS TALE', Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), 29 August, p. 17. , viewed 18 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168730376 [This article is illustrated with another image of Lucci - EM 18/10/2019]](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/0c89d0e80188379c387bf3d3a0572ff6?width=650)
‘Don’t move or I’ll shoot’
Giovanni Lucci was ‘The King’ in an Italian gang that carried out a string of robberies in Sydney in the 1920s. Detectives were struck by their precision, and their equipment.
Object Lesson
Fragment a reminder of Skylab’s fiery fall to earth
After the space station fell to earth in WA in 1979, a panel ended up in the hands of engineer Ben Lexcen.
A broken-hearted widow
In Melbourne’s Parliamentary Library is a relic of surprising intimacy, autographed by Queen Victoria as she mourned Prince Albert.
Stumped by brutal ‘justice’
A manhunt for two escapees took on a greater urgency after the fatal beating of a warder using weapons taken from a sports storeroom.
Tiny insight into life of a desperate girl
Dental records helped identify the body of Irene Argent, 18, who died after a botched abortion in 1929.
A ‘penny’ for your thoughts as I leave
Marooned in the UK, convict love tokens eluded the attention of local historians. Now they are seen as the original white Australian artwork.
Gentle activist who worked her charm
Faith Bandler was a gifted, fluent public speaker who could also inspire with her immaculate grooming.
One ‘mad German’ and an odyssey into the great unknown
Oskar Speck’s seven-year, 50,000km journey from Germany to Australia in a customised canvas kayak is one of the most remarkable journeys ever undertaken.
Our man in China
This extraordinary Australian retraced the steps of Burke and Wills, walking 3200km from Normanton to Melbourne. Then he set off for China…
A fine reminder of the doomed diners
On the emigrant ship in the age of sail, travellers recreated the customs of land at sea, with their delineations of class and expectations of formality.
‘Prouder than ever to be your daughter’
Every object tells a story, sometimes obvious, sometimes obscure, usually independent of that item’s appearance.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/object-lesson