A slice of vanished Hollywood glamour: Vintage signed pictures of Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and James Dean are sold for thousands at auction

  • Sultry portrait of Marilyn Monroe signed by the actress sold for almost $25,000
  • The photograph was taken during a Frank Powolny glamour shoot in 1953 
  • Number of photographs were auctioned online from December 8 by RR Auction
  • James Dean photo sold for $12,383 and a Greta Garbo portrait went for $17,908

By Rachael Burford For Mailonline

Published: 08:59 EST, 19 December 2016 | Updated: 12:31 EST, 19 December 2016

A vintage portrait of Marilyn Monroe sold for almost $25,000 when it was auctioned alongside several other rare photographs of Hollywood royalty.

The image, taken during a Frank Powolny glamour shoot in 1953, was signed with the words, 'To Jimmie, Best regards, Marilyn Monroe'.

The Monroe portrait was one of a number of photographs that were auctioned online between December 8 and 15 by Boston-based RR Auction.

Scroll down for video 

The image, taken during a Frank Powolny glamour shoot in 1953, was signed with the words, 'To Jimmie, Best regards, Marilyn Monroe'. It sold for almost $25,000

Other highlights included a James Dean 'East of Eden’ signed photograph which sold for $12,383 and a picture of George Reeves as Superman that went for $5017. A Greta Garbo portrait was snapped up for $17,908.

Monroe and Powolny most famously teamed up in 1953 for a series publicity stills for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Robert Livingston of RR Auction said: 'Powolny captured countless stars in photos that ended up in newspapers, magazines and theater lobbies around the world.

'[It is] a gorgeous image elevated by the contrast of Monroe's white signature and the deepness of the unlit "film noir" background.'

Immortalized for his classic World War II pinup picture of Betty Grable, Powolny was a trusted photographer of Monroe throughout her career. 

An 'exceptionally rare' signed Greta Garbo photo given to an aspiring actress and fan sold for almost $18,000. The circa 1927 matte finish portrait of Garbo by Ruth Harriet Louise, is boldly signed and inscribed in fountain pen, 'To Eva von Berne, Greta Garbo'

Other highlights included a James Dean 'East of Eden' oversized signed photograph (left) which sold for $12,383 and a picture of George Reeves as Superman (right) that went for $5,017

He even took the last known photographs of the starlet during the production of Something's Got to Give, one week before her death in 1962.  

An 'exceptionally rare' signed Greta Garbo photo given to an aspiring actress and fan sold for almost $18,000. 

Hoping to discover �another Garbo,’ MGM imported Eva von Berne from Vienna with the aim of making her a movie star—even though she knew little English and had never been on stage or screen. 

A signed photo of Randolph Scott and Cary Grant was also up for auction

After much fanfare and publicity, von Berne was cast opposite John Gilbert—Garbo’s leading man—in the 1928 film The Masks of the Devil. 

Despite respectable reviews, von Berne was not cut out for Hollywood and was sent back to Europe. 

But, before leaving, she met her idol Garbo and received an inscribed photograph. 

The photo was described as, 'a truly fantastic and exceptionally rare portrait' by the auction house.  

Comments (16)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now