105

James Dean Speedster 23F Racing Inter-Negative

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Memorabilia Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
James Dean Speedster 23F Racing Inter-Negative
Rare and wonderful for all James Dean fans and 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 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 a Black and White inter-negative made by Vignolle from his original color negative on Kodak Safety Film, taken at the race. Because the series of color negatives have been lost this is the only negative in existence of this photo. It shows a side of Dean rarely seen. He looks absolutely boyish (rather than his usually brutish), with the most delightful full grin and bright eyes. According to Vignolle, he took this shot right after Dean figured out the problem with his motor, all on his own, and just minutes before the race was to begin. This was taken just at the moment with the Porsche 23F Speedster was "humming" the way it should after Dean's intense "fiddling" with it. The negative 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. Also Includes a copy of the MotoRacing issue. (Negative approx. 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" & photo approx. 5" x 4").