Boris Karloff 1930s Portraits and Sketch by Nocolai Fechin. ...

Description

Boris Karloff 1930s Portraits and Sketch by Nocolai Fechin. Even "monsters" got the star treatment from the publicity departments in Golden Age Hollywood, and this lot proves it. Included is an original, dramatically intense b&w 8" x 10" Universal portrait of Karloff, in three-piece suit and smoking a pipe, circa 1933; "KARLOFF Universal Pictures Star" stamped en verso, as is "Please Credit Photo by Ray Jones Universal Pictures." (Note Universal was now billing Karloff by his last name only, a la MGM's "Garbo.") Also included: a portrait of Karloff, probably from the same photo session and wearing a hat (no credit en verso); and a 6" x 8" photo of a sketch of Karloff, circa 1933, by noted artist Nocolai Fechin. This photo of the sketch, which captures its subject as both handsome and demonic, has a copyright notice en verso from the National Portrait Gallery of London and was used as the frontispiece in the 1975 book Dear Boris. A copy of the picture in its layout page from that book is included too. Good to Very Good condition. From the Boris Karloff Estate Collection. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sara Karloff Sparkman.

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