CLEARWATER, FLA.- A breathtaking collection of investment-quality, original celebrity photographs and memorabilia is set to go under the hammer in an eagerly anticipated sale on June 8 at Blackwell Auctions. Featuring iconic images of legendary figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, John F. Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Salvador Dali, Jimi Hendrix and many others, this event will offer fresh-to-the-market, original rarities for collectors of Hollywood, music, sports and historic personalities.

The auction will showcase the work of some of the most renowned photographers of the 20th century, timeless images of some of the world’s brightest stars. Many of the pieces came directly from Celebrity Vault and Globe Entertainment & Media Corp., holders of the one of the world's largest collections of original and limited edition celebrity images. Others are from the personal archives of Dick Zimmerman, the celebrity photographer who captured the “Thriller” album photos. And there’s a selection of never-published, original photos of John F. Kennedy, many by his personal photographer, Jacques Lowe.

Among the highlights is a rare transparency of Marilyn Monroe at the beach, taken by Andre de Dienes in 1949. Another standout: two original transparencies of the widely and wildly publicized wedding portraits of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, one of which graced the cover of the National Enquirer. Additionally, the auction will feature an original 8x10 negative of Audrey Hepburn by Bud Fraker, a rare Jimi Hendrix photograph by Gered Mankowitz, a Sid Avery photograph of the 1960 cast of Ocean’s 11 and many more extraordinary rarities.

There’s also a nice selection of memorabilia, headlined by several pieces of furniture owned by the late Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman), consigned to Blackwell personally by Reubens prior to his passing, and signed pieces by Bono, Taylor Swift, Blink-182, Johnny Cash, and other A-Listers.

“To be candid, every lot is a highlight,” said Edwin Bailey, Blackwell’s owner, “and every photograph pictures a legend. Beyond Marilyn, Michael and JFK, there’s James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Andy Warhol, Ingrid Bergman, Robin Williams, Muhammad Ali, Lou Gehrig. And so many more. It’s the most star-studded collection we’ve ever handled, for sure.”

Online preview: https://publuu.com/flip-book/83345/1165068