Appearance of age is not enough where FBI wanted posters are concerned as reprints date back nearly as far. Actual law enforcement used posters and identification orders of the likes of Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde are very rare. The most reliable method involves locating a copy with a postmark, however sometimes they were sent out in bulk so an original may not have this. Failing the above rule, check the addresses on the back. 1934 originals have the Washington, D.C., address as Hurley-Wright Bldg. "Tourist" reprints, which date to 1935 or so and on, have the address as 5747 Justice. Headquarters had moved at some point during this time. The FBI evidently reproduced Dillinger, as well as Bonnie and Clyde 8x8’s for years, all the way into the sixties from what I have been told. These have been and are routinely sold as original by mostly unsuspecting dealers for as much as three figures in the past. In fact, Ebay has probably made the reprints so common as to make their value negligible. I did acquire a postmarked copy on Ebay that went largely unnoticed due to the market glut. It included the follow-up cancellation order. I might add that the large single shot wanted posters with blank backs are definitely FBI reproductions also. The original had two photos, a printable copy of which can be seen at this link:

Once you have brought up this image note the Hurley-Wright address visible on the reverse at the bottom of the scan. The large "$20,000 Reward" posters, which are sometimes confused as genuine, were pullout items included in the 1971 crime comic IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB. No comparable poster was ever issued in the thirties.

Thanks to Mike Webb, Chris Hegle, and especially Sandy Jones and Bill Helmer for past input on this subject.

Dillinger's Penis