Auction 739 April.

Vintage original 1955 calendar featuring the classic color 8 x 10 image of a nude Marilyn Monroe, 10 x 17, with text in the lower border reading: “Golden Dreams,” with "Posed by Marilyn Monroe" to the right. All calendar pages remain intact. In fine condition, with a crease to the lower right of the picture and corner creases to the calendar.

On May 27, 1949, in Los Angeles, Monroe posed nude for photographer Tom Kelly on a red velvet backdrop and was paid $50 for the session, signing the photo release as ‘Mona Monroe.’ Two years after the calendar featuring the images was published, wire service reporter Ailene Mosby discovered in February 1952 that the model was Marilyn Monroe, sparking a brief scandal. When questioned by executives at 20th Century-Fox, Monroe confirmed it was her and soon issued a statement explaining that she had posed for the photos while struggling financially and needed the money to pay her bills. Rather than harming her career, the revelation increased her popularity, dramatically boosting her fan mail, and her film, Clash by Night, soon opened to strong box office.

Two vintage 4.75 x 10 Brown & Bigelow promotional calendars featuring artistic portraits of Marilyn Monroe in alluring poses by glamour artist and pinup photographer Earl Moran, issued for July 1948 and August 1948, with one depicting wearing an open red top and holding a pair of roller skates in front of a “Bus Stop” sign, and the other shows Monroe kneeling nude in a basket, her only form attire in the form of a large bow tied across her hip. Both calendars were used by the Boston-based company Essex Shoe Supply Co., Inc. In overall very good to fine condition, with creasing and edgewear.

Earl Moran, one of the great pinup artists of all time, hired Norma Jeane from the Blue Book Agency to model for him, paying her $10 an hour. Over the next three years, Moran would continue to hire Monroe, providing a fairly steady source of income for her during those erratic, early years. Monroe was once quoted as saying, ‘Earl saved my life many a time.’

Original vintage semi-glossy 11 x 14 silver gelatin photograph of Marilyn Monroe holding hands with her husband, Arthur Miller, as she leaves Lenox Hill Hospital on June 26, 1959, as captured by Brooklyn Dodgers photographer Barney Stein. Reverse bears Stein's credit stamp. In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA, certifying it as an authentic "Type I" photograph from circa 1959.

Original vintage glossy 7 x 9 promotional photo of Marilyn Monroe for a special television program on ABC entitled ‘Marilyn Monroe,’ which features a central image of Monroe wearing a gold lamé gown designed by William Travilla for the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, surrounded by six floating head-shot portraits of the actress across her career. Reverse bears an ABC caption label dated March 7, 1963. In very good to fine condition, with light staining to the borders and top edge. Encapsulated by PSA as an authentic 'Type III' photograph, circa 1963.

Original vintage glossy 8 x 10 close-up photo of Marilyn Monroe sans makeup laughing during a photo shoot on Malibu Beach, originally taken in 1946 by photographer Andre de Dienes and printed from the original negative during the 1950s. Reverse bears the credit stamp of Andre de Dienes, who adds a handwritten notation, “Marilyn Monroe (Laughing in the wind), ‘Joy.’” In very fine condition. Encapsulated by PSA as an authentic 'Type II' photograph, circa 1950s.

De Dienes on the Malibu shoot: ‘She was twenty and had never experienced the intoxication of success, yet already there was a shadow over her radiance, in her laughter. I asked her to react instinctively, without giving herself time to think, to the words happiness, surprise, reflection, doubt, peace of mind, sadness, self-torment…and death. When I said ‘death,’ she took hold of the folded dark-cloth and covered her head with it. Death to her was blackness, nothingness. I tried to coax another reaction from her. Death might be a beginning, the hope of an everlasting light. She shook her head: ‘That’s what death is for me.’ She turned towards me, her face set and despairing, eyes dulled, her mouth suddenly bereft of colour. To her, death was the end of everything.’

Scarce original issue of The Family Circle magazine from April 26, 1946, twenty-two pages, 8.5 x 11.25, featuring a front cover image of a young Norma Jeane Dougherty wearing a milkmaid-style dress, smiling as she leans over to pick up a small lamb, with the credit to the lower left listing Andre de Dienes as the photographer. In fine condition, with light scuffs and edgewear.

When this magazine was published, Marilyn Monroe was only 19 years old and still using her given name, which, at the time, ended with the surname of her husband, James Dougherty, whom she would divorce a few months later in September of 1946. The photograph was taken by de Dienes in 1945, during one of Monroe’s first modeling assignments. It’s widely believed that this issue of The Family Circle represents Monroe's first national magazine cover appearance. Monroe mentioned this magazine in a 1956 interview with Pete Martin: ‘One of the magazines I was on wasn’t a man’s magazine at all. It was called Family Circle. You buy it in supermarkets. I was holding a lamb with a pinafore. I was the one with the pinafore.’

Original issue of US Camera from May 1946, seventy pages, 10.5 x 13.5, featuring an image of Norma Jeane Dougherty wearing a sweater and checkered pants at a Malibu beach. Caption below identifies the photographer as Andre de Dienes. In fine condition, with edgewear and a notation to the upper front cover. One of Marilyn Monroe's earliest front cover appearances.

Two vintage magazines featuring Marilyn Monroe on the front cover as a young Norma Jeane Dougherty:

The first is an issue of Pageant magazine from June 1946, 162 pages, 5.5 x 7.75, which depicts Monroe in a half-length pose wearing a light green bikini top and holding a ribbon in her hair, an image originally taken by photographer Andre de Dienes at Malibu Beach in 1945. Monroe’s image is again shown on the opening page above a quick bio: “Vivacious 19-year-old Norma Jean Dougherty was working in an aircraft factory when she was asked to pose for official War Department pictures. She has been modeling ever since. Norma Jean likes the outdoor life and cooking for her Coast Guard husband.”

Second is an issue of LAFF magazine from August 1946, thirty pages, 10.5 x 13.25, which shows Monroe wearing a yellow two-piece bathing suit, smiling in a typical ‘cheesecake pose’ of the era, with the cover byline identifying the model as “Jean Norman.” The same image is pictured on the contents page and lists the “Cover Girl” as “Jean Norman.” In overall very good to fine condition, with light marks and creases, and some edgewear.

Attractive color oversized 16 x 33.5 Brown & Bigelow calendar for 1948 featuring artwork of Marilyn Monroe by glamour artist and pinup photographer Earl Moran. The calendar's large image, entitled ‘Maid in Baltimore,’ shows Monroe wearing a yellow two-piece bathing suit in a beautiful full-figure pose. The calendar was used by the New Jersey company Washington Auto Parts. All of the month pages are present. Rolled and in very good to fine condition, with some light creasing, and a small puncture and tear to the upper left corner.

Earl Moran, one of the great pinup artists of all time, hired Norma Jeane from the Blue Book Agency to model for him, paying her $10 an hour. Over the next three years, Moran would continue to hire Monroe, providing a fairly steady source of income for her during those erratic, early years. Monroe was once quoted as saying, ‘Earl saved my life many a time.’

Color glossy 8 x 10 photo of Jack Nicholson holding up his Oscar for Best Actor at the 1976 Academy Awards, recognizing his performance as Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, signed in blue felt tip. In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services.

Glossy 8 x 10 Paramount promotional photo of Jack Nicholson as Frank Chambers in the 1981 neo-noir thriller The Postman Always Rings Twice, signed in blue ballpoint. In fine condition, with poor signature contrast.

Vintage sepia matte-finish 7.5 x 9.5 photo of Barbara O'Neil in an attractive seated pose, signed in fountain pen. In very fine condition.

Color glossy 11 x 14 photo of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III, signed in silver ink. In very fine condition, with a PSA/DNA label affixed to the lower right corner. Accompanied by an 'in the presence' certificate of authenticity from PSA/DNA.

Vintage glossy 8 x 10 photo of the actress smoking a cigarette, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To Peter, Katina Paxinou.” In fine condition, with moderate signature contrast, and light dampstaining to the top edge.

Two items: a bold fountain pen signature, "Will Rogers," on an off-white 3.5 x 2 card; and a fountain pen signature, "Will Rogers," on an off-white 6.5 x 3.75 mailing envelope addressed to him, featuring an affixed 3-cent stamp portraying the celebrated performer. In overall fine condition.

TLS, one page, 8 x 10, September 5, 1977. Letter to United Artists Corporation, in full: "Concurrently herewith you are lending to me the sum of $10,000 (Dollars Ten Thousand). To secure the repayment of said loan, plus interest thereon, I hereby assign to you any and all monies which I may hereafter be entitled to receive from 'Return Of The Pink Panther,' 'The Pink Panther Strikes Again' and any future films in which I may render services, it being agreed that said security assignment shall be in addition to and not in substitution of my unconditional obligation to repay said loan, plus interest thereon, on demand therefore by you." In fine condition.

Semi-glossy 10 x 8 Twentieth-Century Fox publicity photo of the von Trapp family singing in a scene from the 1965 film The Sound of Music, signed in black felt tip by Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Angela Cartwright, Duane Chase, Kym Karath, Debbie Turner, and Charmian Carr. In fine condition, with a few small creases.

DS, three pages, 8.5 x 11, February 27, 1978. Early Columbia Pictures document hiring Spielberg to serve as executive producer on "the development and proposed production and distribution of motion pictures…based upon the characters 'Gabe' and 'Walker.'" Signed at the conclusion in black felt tip by Steven Spielberg, and countersigned in ballpoint by Dan Bockman. In fine condition, with light creasing at the top.

Attractive Star Trek artwork by Morris Scott Dollens, depicting the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) starship soaring through outer space, accomplished in acrylic on 9.5 x 7.5 Masonite, signed in the lower left corner by Dollens. The reverse is annotated, “No. 7–1493, Star Trek,” and signed along the bottom edge in felt tip, “Copyright 1976 Morris Scott Dollens.”Framed sans glass and in fine condition.

Morris Scott Dollens (1920–1994) was an American artist and science fiction writer best known for his vivid, imaginative paintings associated with the golden age of science fiction. He began his career at 16, contributing to science fiction fanzines in 1936, and later gained recognition for the artwork he created for science fiction books and magazines in the 1950s. His paintings frequently depicted futuristic worlds, space exploration, and other speculative themes that defined mid-century science fiction, and his work has since been featured in numerous science fiction art books, preserving his legacy as an important figure in the genre’s visual history.

Vintage glossy 10.25 x 8 close-up photo of Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars saga, signed in purple felt tip, "Yours sincerely, Alec Guinness, 1979.” In very good to fine condition, with light scattered creasing.

Vintage glossy 8 x 9.5 close-up photo of Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars saga, signed nicely in blue ink, "Good wishes, Alec Guinness.” In very good to fine condition, with a light bend to the upper left corner.

DS, signed “I. Thalberg,” one page, 8.5 x 10.25, September 8, 1924. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios document sent to May McAvoy, in part: "You are to sail from New York City, New York, September 24, 1924, on the 'Berengaria,' and your services are to commence on the 5th day of October, 1924, at Rome, Italy, if it is possible for us to arrange this with Rome." Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Irving Thalberg, and countersigned by May McAvoy. In fine condition, with a trimmed top edge.

Accompanied by a letter from attorney Neil S. McCarthy, September 16, 1924, in part: "Pursuant to the contract between yourselves and Miss May McAvoy, for the portrayal of the part of 'Esther' by Miss McAvoy, in the production of Ben Hur, being made by you. This is to advise you that all payments of salary for Miss McAvoy's services should be deposited to the credit of Julia A. McAvoy, in the Hollywood Branch of the Security Trust & Savings Bank."

Shooting for MGM's production of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ began in Rome, Italy, in October 1923 under the direction of Charles Brabin, who was replaced with Fred Niblo shortly after filming began. After two years of difficulties and accidents, the production was eventually moved back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Culver City, California, and production resumed in the spring of 1925.

DS, four pages, 8.5 x 11, March 29, 1963. Standard AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists) exclusive agency contract between the William Morris Agency and “Moe, Howard, Larry Fine, Joe De Rita pka The Three Stooges,” who employs the former for one year. Signed at the conclusion in blue ballpoint by the three aforementioned Stooges. In fine condition.

DS, four pages, 8.5 x 11, August 12, 1946. Standard AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists) exclusive agency contract between the William Morris Agency and Lana Turner, who employs the former for a period of three years. Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Turner. In fine condition.

Handsome vintage matte-finish 6.25 x 8.25 photo of Valentino as bullfighter Juan Gallardo in the 1922 silent drama Blood and Sand, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To my friends Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lawrence, ever sincerely, Rudolph Valentino.” Archivally double-matted and framed to an overall size of 14 x 16.25. In fine condition, with some skipping to the first name of the signature.