32-A - TOM KELLEY (AMERICAN 1914-1984)

TOM KELLEY (AMERICAN 1914-1984) Marilyn Monroe (Golden Dreams), taken in 1949, printed and published in 1990 cibachrome print image size: 92.7 x 74.3 cm (36 1/2 x 29 1/4 in.) initialed 'HMH' by Hugh Hefner in silver ink lower right, numbered 280/300 in silver ink lower left edition 280/300, published by Special Editions, Ltd./Mirage Editions, Inc., in collaboration with Playboy Enterprises, 1990 accompanied by the publisher's Certificate of Authenticity signed by Carol Yochum, Sales Manager, Mirage Editions, Inc., the original 1990 announcement and handling instructions LOT NOTES In 1949 Tom Kelley photographed a then little-known Marilyn Monroe, nude against red velvet, for a calendar commission; she was paid fifty dollars for the session. The images were sold to the John Baumgarth Calendar Company, and in 1953 Hugh Hefner acquired this pose for the premiere issue of Playboy, where Monroe appeared as the magazine's first "Sweetheart of the Month." The undated first issue sold more than 50,000 copies and launched the magazine. In 1990, Playboy and Special Editions, Ltd./Mirage Editions, Inc. issued this image as a limited edition of 300 large-format archival Cibachrome prints, each personally inscribed by Hefner Keywords: Tom Kelley Photograph, Marilyn Monroe Nude, Golden Dreams, Red Velvet, Hugh Hefner Signed, Playboy Centerfold N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions & Appraisals LLC and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions & Appraisals, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.