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Marilyn Monroe. Photograph Inscribed and Signed to Joe DiMaggio. ...
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$300,000.00
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Description
The Only Known Inscribed Photograph of Marilyn Monroe to Joe DiMaggio - An Extraordinary Rarity
"I love you Joe, Marilyn"
Marilyn Monroe. Photograph Inscribed and Signed to Joe
DiMaggio. Gelatin silver matte double-weight 8 x 10 inches
photograph of Marilyn Monroe taken in 1953 by 20th Century-Fox
studio photographer, Frank Powolny, as publicity for her breakout
film that made her a superstar, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Inscribed and signed in blue ink to her husband, "The Yankee
Clipper," Joe DiMaggio, "I love you Joe,
Marilyn." One of the most iconic and glamorous studio
portrait shoots of Monroe's career, this portrait features the
actress in a strapless dress, reclining on a satin pillow, and
accessorized with opulent diamond necklace and earrings. At the
time of this portrait, she was about to embark on her most iconic
roles including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a
Millionaire, There's No Business Like Show Business, and
The Seven Year Itch.Despite Marilyn's indifference to baseball, and Joe's indifference to movie making, the two icons were instantly attracted to each other. Marilyn later commented on their courtship, "I was surprised to be so crazy about Joe. I expected a flashy New York sports type, and instead I met this reserved guy who didn't make a pass at me right away. I had dinner with him almost every night for two weeks. He treated me like something special. Joe is a very decent man, and he makes other people feel decent, too."
Over the next year, the two became Hollywood's hottest couple, though their long-distance relationship with Marilyn in Los Angeles, and Joe in New York, wasn't without its drama. When they first met, DiMaggio was the more popular celebrity of the two, but by the end of 1953, Marilyn had become a very popular public personality. In contrast, Joe, retired from the spotlight of professional baseball, craved privacy and hated publicity.
Despite the warning, the couple eloped and were wed in January 1954 in San Francisco City Hall, where they were mobbed by fans and the paparazzi. The couple went to Japan on their honeymoon and the first cracks already began to appear when Marilyn agreed to interrupt their honeymoon in order to perform as part of the USO Tour to American servicemen stationed in Korea. Joe didn't support the decision.
Joe was proud of Marilyn's beauty, but became instantly jealous if she was admired by strange men or if she wore revealing dresses that embarrassed him in public. The most notable instance was while Marilyn was filming the famous "subway scene" from the film, The Seven Year Itch, shot in mid-September 1954 on location in Midtown Manhattan. Director Billy Wilder invited members of the press and public to watch, but DiMaggio was incensed by what he saw. Two weeks later, Marilyn stepped out of her Beverly Hills home to announce she was seeking a divorce.
After Marilyn's divorce from Arthur Miller in 1961, Joe and Marilyn rekindled their friendship and there were even rumors of them remarrying, when the actress was spotted spending time with DiMaggio in Florida, where he was working as a batting coach for the New York Yankees.
This simple, endearing inscription, "I love you, Joe," is testament to the close, all-too-brief connection the two icons shared.
Provenance: From The Joe DiMaggio Collection and accompanied by a signed Letter of Provenance from DiMaggio's daughters: Paula DiMaggio Hamra and Kathie DiMaggio Stein. With JSA Letters of Authenticity.
Condition: Some toning overall and areas of fading at the edges, with gentle corner bumps. 2-inch horizontal stress crease at the upper right, extending into the image. Some paper lifting along the upper edge verso from mount removal. Very good.
Auction Info
2022 December 1 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6267 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
1st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 18
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,423
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
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