Premiere Props · Sale 52669 · Lot 123
James Dean Rare Original Racing Photo & Negative After
Own the priceless photo and the exclusive copyright printing rights to a rare James Dean racing photo! A remarkable discovery for fans and collectors of James Dean! 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 first car race in Palm Springs, California in March of 1955, 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 the one and only original Black and White photo and negative photographed and developed by Vignolle on Kodak Safety Film, taken at the race. It shows a truly victorious Dean, wearing a winner's checker flag cap, given to him by his friend and mechanic Bill Tunstall, after Deans amazing win. They are both looking at the unbelievable specs of his place in the standings, having beat out all the other race cars by 300 yards! 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").