It's a fantasy stoked by daydreams, bank statements, and treasure-focused cable shows: Coming across a trove of something rare and valuable while going through old paperwork and boxes.
But saying it is purely the stuff of legend is not right, for, on occasion, someone makes a significant find. Zaz Vignolle Clark, daughter of photographer Gus Vignolle, was "sorting through her father's articles and photographs" when she came across an interesting set of negatives featuring James Dean.
Mr. Vignolle photographed the movie dreamheart back in March of 1955, when he was out and about in Palm Springs, taking his spanking new Porsche Speedster for a spin. Some of the snapshots showed up in MotoRacing, which Mr. Vignolle published, but several of the pictures? Lost to time, for over a half century.
Lost things, though, sometimes get found, and quite by surprise, too. The 34 James Dean photos will be up for auction at Premiere Props on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23.
"All rights to reproduce" will be included with the photos.
The actor, who crashed on his way to race in Salinas on Sept. 30 of that year, had a love of racing. That's where Mr. Vignolle met him, on March 26, and Mr. Jean's car can be seen in several of the photos.
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A number of Hollywoodian items'll be up for auction, but if you want to take a peek at the Dean rarities, you can, starting here.
