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Marilyn Monroe double-weight signed 10" x 8" photo from the very early 1950s

Inspired by the recent thread about a 10" x 8" Marilyn photo, as well as Steve's comment that Marilyn normally signed double-weight photos, I thought I'd post my only Marilyn signed photo. The photo was taken by Frank Powolny in 1950 to promote "All About Eve." Given the style of signature I would say that autograph was written in 1950 too. The quality of the photo is quite incredible. I hope this is evident from the images.

Obviously Marilyn has written her name in a very unhelpful place so I have taken an image of it in glancing light.

It is strange that Marilyn hasn't written a name in her dedication. This may be because she knew the recipient very well indeed. One candidate would be Allan "Whitey" Snyder, who was Marilyn's make-up artist from 1946 to 1962. I say this mainly because someone seems to have written Snyder on the back of the photo. The other two words are a mystery to me - maybe not even English. It is also perhaps significant that Snyder's wife, Majorie Plecher, who also worked with Marilyn as a dresser, died in October 2009 and I acquired the photo at auction in November 2010.

As a rather macabre aside, it is perhaps interesting to note that Allan and Majorie made-up and dressed Marilyn for her funeral.

Here are some images. If anyone has any tips as to the lettering on the back I'd be happy to receive them.

Close-up

Glancing light Marilyn

Note to back

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Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on February 28, 2023 at 12:56am

That's lovely! Not a very helpful note on the back!

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on February 28, 2023 at 2:01am

Thank you Pauline.

It would have been much lovelier if Marilyn had kept her name to a light part of the image and the photograph hadn't been trimmed but I guess I wouldn't have been able to afford it then.

I have seen another signed example of this photo inscribed "To Bill". I'll see if I can find it again and post it.

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on February 28, 2023 at 2:17am

Well I couldn't find a decent image of the "To Bill" example but I'm posting it anyway. I did find a decent image of another example that was sold at both Julien's and RR Auction. I find it rather too neat but I suppose it must be real to get auctioned by both of those auction houses.

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Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on February 28, 2023 at 3:43am

Hi Eva,

Yes To Bill is real and there's a story attached, the photo was a kiss off to Bill, whom she did not want to date. He had to wait at the door, he wasn't sure what for and was handed two signed photos. I shall have to look him up. She wasn't a huge star yet.