Norma Jeane Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe) signed photograph inscribed to her surrogate parents, Erwin and Grace Goddard as a Chri...

Description

Norma Jeane Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe) signed photograph inscribed to her surrogate parents, Erwin and Grace Goddard as a Christmas present. (1946) Vintage original gelatin silver 7 x 8.75 in. double weight matte photograph. A luminous head & shoulders portrait of the future Marilyn Monroe, inscribed and signed in black ink at lower right, "To Grace and Daddy Always Lovingly Norma Jeane 12/25/46". The "daddy" to whom Norma Jeanne inscribed this early headshot is Erwin "Doc" Goddard, a research engineer and the husband of Norma Jeanne's legal guardian, Grace Goddard. Grace and Erwin married in 1937, and later that year took in Norma Jeane, who resided with them off and on over a nine-year period. In 1942, The Goddards moved to Huntington, West Virginia. As Norma Jeanne, then aged sixteen, had already married James Daugherty, she did not travel with the family. This inscribed photograph is dated Christmas Day, 1946, and is clearly a Christmas present from the fledgling model/actress to her surrogate parents. An intimate and touching pre-stardom Norma Jeanne keepsake. Light edge wear. In vintage fine condition. Originally acquired from the collection of Grace Goddard.

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