James Dean Rare Original Racing Photo & Negative

Own the priceless photo and the exclusive copyright printing rights to a rare James Dean racing photo! A spectacular rare find for James Dean collectors. 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 the one and only original Black and White photo and negative photographed and developed by Vignolle on Kodak Safety Film, taken at the race. The photo shows James Dean at the racetrack in a very personal moment, sitting on the back of his Speedster, shielding the wind from a lit match as he lights a cigarette. His hair is wind-blown, and he wears sunglasses and his iconic racing overalls and is obviously nervous before the race. 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").