Milton H. Greene’s Photo Archive to be Sold By Profiles In History
LOS ANGELES—JUNE 6, 2013—Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the auction of 75,000 original camera negatives and transparencies from the Milton H. Greene Estate. Over 3,700 unpublished Marilyn Monroe images highlight the auction. All images are to be sold with copyright and will go up for auction on July 27. Along with other eminent photographers such as Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, and Norman Parkinson, Milton Greene is credited for bringing fashion photography into the realm of fine art. His archive contains iconic fashion and glamour photography that sought to reveal a deeper beauty, from the heart, and also show his subjects in natural settings to elicit unforced intimacy. The majority of Greene’s work in the 1950s and 60s appeared in national publications including nearly 100 covers for Life and Look as well as Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country and Vogue. His photography won him international honors, medals and awards from institutions and organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Art Director’s Club of New York.
Greene first encountered Marilyn Monroe on assignment for Look Magazine in 1953. When the 26-year-old Greene sent her proofs from their first sitting, “she responded with two dozen roses and called to say they were the most beautiful pictures she had ever seen.” They quickly became close friends and ultimately formed their own film production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, which resulted in Bus Stopand The Prince and the Showgirl. Before marrying Arthur Miller, Monroe lived with Greene and his family in their Weston, Connecticut farmhouse during her hiatus in 1955. During this period, Greene captured some of the most celebrated photographs taken of Monroe. During their four years together, Greene photographed Monroe in 52 photographic sessions, from which 3,700 unpublished images are to be sold in this auction.
Other high profile celebrity images represented in the archive include OVER 70,000 unpublished images of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Kim Novak, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Natalie Wood, Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Faye Dunaway, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and many more.
Unquestionably, the most important photographic archive of its kind to ever reach the auction block—all to be sold with copyright!
ABOUT PROFILES IN HISTORY
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world’s largest auctioneer & dealer of original Hollywood Memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts. Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph “Joe” Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and own virtually every Guinness Book record for prices of original screen-used memorabilia. Highlights from their previous auctions include the “Cowardly Lion” costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen’s “Michael Delaney” racing suit from Le Mans ($960,000); From the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe “Subway” Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In February 2012, Profiles in History arranged the sale of a pair of Judy Garland screen-used Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, Joe Maddalena is the star of Hollywood Treasure, which just ended its second season on Syfy. Hollywood Treasure takes viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia. For more information visit www.profilesinhistory.com.
