MARILYN, INK. The Blonde The Blotters
Mon, Nov 23, 2015bySleuth
Ink blotters were the business cards of their dayhighly absorbent paper used to soak up the excess from fountain pens so popular following World War II rationing, but which virtually disappeared with the invention of the ballpoint (popularized by Parker Pens as ‘The Jotter’derived from blotterin 1954). “Today,” according an eBay expert in the field, “these vintage blotters, made in the 1930s and 1940s, are very highly prized and sought-after collectibles.” Especially if the model for their artwork was a pre-discovery MARILYN MONROE! The Celebrity Sleuth Collection comprises 14 such vintage beautieswhich she posed for acclaimed artist Earl Moran from 1946-48. The first session took place on March 8, 1946when the 19-year-old aspiring actress signed the model release as ‘Norma Jeane Dougherty’ Almost always suggestive, with nursery rhymes like: “Little Boy Blue, Come Blow Your Horn” and “Peter Peter, Pumpkin Eater” {Sleuth managed to find the original pose that the artist chose} the blotters in the Collection advertised equally evocative “firms” like lumber dealers, drinking fountain distributors, foam rubber cushions and pads {pictured in the listing forLot 20} and, of course, machine tools. Not surprising, but what’s astonishing is thateven though nude art could never have been used in the late Fortiesyoung Marilyn was clearly comfortable with posing TOPLESS for the artist to then cover with clothes for public display! And even when the sexy starlet tried to cover up, she couldn’t help a “nip slip” that slipped by the censors. No wonder the uninhibited blonde inspired future superstar Madonna to recreate one of Monroe’s many poses for Moran, which she signed for our Lot 75. As a leading Canadian collector concluded: “These vintage ink blotters are highly collectible and becoming more rare, as many collectors are hanging on to them and not letting them go.”
and her face was so formidable that she graced scores of blotters over the next few yearsso much so that the unknown was the sole stunner shown in this anonymous two-page spread from 1950 unearthed by Sleuth!
Go to http://www.regencystamps.com/MARILYN_MONROE_1940s_50s_EARL_MORAN_ADVERTISING_IN-LOT346125.aspx before they’re gone!
