WILTSHIRE.- Henry Aldridge and Son announced the auction of a unique piece of show business memorabilia in their auction of Collectables and Antiques on Saturday September 20th.

This star of the show is a unique negative of Norma Jeane Baker, later Marilyn Monroe, taken at Zuma Beach, Malibu at the very start of her career in 1946, by Hollywood photographer Joseph Jasgur. This photo formed part of her first modelling portfolio that was presented to Ben Lyon, casting director at 20th Century Fox. Norma Jeane Baker married James Dougherty in 1942, soon after Dougherty’s Merchant Marines unit was shipped out and Norma Jeane was left to work at a defence plant. With aspirations of becoming a model she joined Hollywood's Blue Book Model Agency. On March 6, 1946 Joseph Jasgur received a call from Emmeline Snively, head of Blue Book, Snively asked Jasgur to take a few test shots of an aspiring young model, he first photographed her on a small street in West Hollywood behind Beverly Boulevard and over the next few weeks he photographed her on top of Don Lee Towers, above the Hollywood sign and at Zuma Beach where this image was taken. This photo offers a unique glimpse of the young girl who was later to become the global phenomena that was Marilyn Monroe. It is exceptionally rare for photos this type to come to auction, however the true value in this image lies in the fact that it is sold with its own copyright to reproduce and distribute the image as the winning bidder wishes.

This item contrasts sharply with the more traditional antiques that will be going under auctioneer Alan Aldridge’s hammer. An intriguing selection of paintings and furniture are on view in the Devizes saleroom ranging from several watercolours by prominent St Ives artist Thomas Henry Victor, several good early 19th century samplers, a rare collection of early Louis Wain postcards and furniture ranging from the 17th and 18th centuries. The saleroom is at bursting point with something for most people tastes.