Premiere Props · Sale 52669 · Lot 101
James Dean Rare Original Racing Photo & Negative Used
Own the priceless rare photo and the exclusive copyright printing rights to a rare James Dean racing photo! A one-of-a-kind discovery for James Dean fans and collector! From the personal collection of Gus V. Vignolle, well known journalist, photographer and publisher of "MotoRacing", one of the first and most influential car racing newspapers of the 1950’s. This is one in a limited series of photos and negatives that have been missing for over 50 years until recently re-discovered by Vignolle’s daughter, Zaz Clark. These intimate photos are of James Dean in and around his Speedster 23F Porsche (License Plate #2U73378) that he bought at Competition Motors in Hollywood. They were taken during his infamous car race in Palm Springs, California in March of 1955 which was his first official race, and which he won not long before his accident in September of that year in his new Porsche Spyder 550 while on his way to a race in Salinas, California. These photographs only appeared once in the January 13th 1956 (Vol 1, No. 7) exclusive, fully-illustrated memorial issue of MotoRacing. This is a Black and White photo and inter-negative made by Vignolle from his original color negative on Kodak Safety Film, taken at the race. Because the series of color negatives have been lost this is the only negative in existence of this photo. It shows a rare photo of a smiling Dean, wearing his iconic racing overalls, screwdriver in his mouth, as he leans into the rear engine of his Speedster, about to do some last minute adjustments. This photo and negative have special value since they were the ones used for the cover of the January 13th, 1956 James Dean MotoRacing memorial issue. The negative comes with a COA, plus full copyright release for unlimited reproduction printing and selling to the winning bidder. The Photo and Negative are carefully packed in a wax envelope, and includes a positive proof photo. Also Includes a copy of the MotoRacing issue. (Negative approx. 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" & photo approx. 5" x 4").