Marilyn Monroe Golden Dreams Photo Positive For Calendar Extremely Rare
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:540127 |
This is the story of a very rare Marilyn Monroe collectible, my grandfather and a broken printing press. My grandfather was working in Southern Illinois as a mechanical engineer when a buddy of his at Chicago Roto Print (W.F.Hall Printing Company; they wen't out of business in 1985) called him up about a problem he was having with his printing presses that no one could fix. My wizardly grandfather drove up and fixed the issue in no time. His friend was so gr...ateful he gifted him with a photo positive that his company had used to print the Golden Dreams calendar. My grandfather said that his friend took it off the wall of his office where it was hanging. He also gave him 4 other positives of girls that were presumably lesser known calendar girls from the 50s. My grandfather had all these items stored away until 2001 when he gave them to me to sell. His signature is the one in the letter pictured. He passed away in 2002 and I, being in the US Navy at the time and on the move, never sold it and have stored it ever since. I have since confirmed that it is not the original, as Tom Kelley still has it, but it was used to make calendars not far from where the John Baumgarth Company, who purchased the original pictures, printed the first Golden Dreams calendars in 1952 Chicago.
All that being said, I'll try to clarify a few things. It was tough to get a great picture, so if you want close-ups of specific portions for inspection please let me know and I will try to accommodate. I do not know what year my grandfather acquired this. I do not know the name of his friend at the printing company. I do not know how many calendar companies printed the Golden Dreams Calendar in the 1950s with a photo positive such as the one I am selling, but I would imagine it is a very small number. I have not had this appraised.
Additionally, if some smart person out there has more knowledge than I of this item, I'd love to hear it.
All that being said, I'll try to clarify a few things. It was tough to get a great picture, so if you want close-ups of specific portions for inspection please let me know and I will try to accommodate. I do not know what year my grandfather acquired this. I do not know the name of his friend at the printing company. I do not know how many calendar companies printed the Golden Dreams Calendar in the 1950s with a photo positive such as the one I am selling, but I would imagine it is a very small number. I have not had this appraised.
Additionally, if some smart person out there has more knowledge than I of this item, I'd love to hear it.
