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James Dean Original Racing Inter-Negative Sitting On His Speedster

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Memorabilia Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
James Dean Original Racing Inter-Negative Sitting On His Speedster
A rare find for James Dean collectors. From the personal collection of Gus V. Vignolle, well known journalist, photographer and publisher of "MotoRacing", which was one of the first and most influential racing newspapers of the 1950’s. This is one in a series of negatives that have been missing for over 50 years until recently re-discovered by Vignolle’s daughter, Zaz Clark. These amazingly 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 a Black and White inter-negative made by Vignolle on Kodak Safety Film, from a color negative taken at the race. All the color negatives from this race have been lost, making this the only existing negative. It shows James Dean sitting on the driver's door of his Speedster 23F, in his racing jumpsuit, swinging his racing goggles in his right hand. It comes with a COA, plus full copyright release for unlimited reproduction printing to the winning bidder. The Negative is carefully packed in a wax envelope, and includes a positive proof photo struck from the negative. Also includes a copy of the MotoRacing issue. (Negative approx. 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" & photo approx. 5" x 4").