Before she dyed her hair platinum. Before she married for the first time. Before she changed her name to something a bit more catchy, Norma Jeane Baker took a selfie.
From the estate of a relative of Marilyn Monroe; to the owner of the image archive 'Silver Screen." Image courtesy Swann Galleries.
The young bombshell snapped this self-portrait at a photo booth circa 1940, donning a hounds-tooth jacket, plaid shirt and a wide-brimmed hat. The photograph proves that, even without all the glitz and glamor, Miss Baker had a smile that could light up a room.
The photo, which was originally gifted to a relative, is extremely rare, given that all negatives from the photo booth were later destroyed. The image is slated to sell for between $8,000 and $12,000 when it heads to auction at Swann Galleries on December 11, starting at 10:30 a.m. The photo will be on view as part of a public exhibition at Swann Galleries on Saturday, December 6, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, December 8 through Wednesday, December 10, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and by appointment.
In the meantime, enjoy these stunning photos of Monroe later in life, slated to sell at Julien's Auctions on December 6, 2014 in Beverly Hills, CA.
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