Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction

Lot #174:

James Dean Signed Rebel Without a Cause Publicity Photo (JSA)

James Dean was an actor whose career spanned just five years but who made a lasting impression for generations to come. Born in Marion, Indiana, in 1931, Dean rose to prominence following his breakout performance as a troubled youth in the widely acclaimed film Rebel Without a Cause. It was released in 1955, the same year Dean died in a head-on car crash at the age of 24. Despite his short life and career, he became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden, which was also released in 1955. He received a second nomination for his starring role in Giant the following year, making him the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations.

This lot offers a personalized publicity photo of Dean posing outside the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles to promote Rebel Without a Cause, which had several scenes from the movie shot at that location. Dean personalized the photo in black fountain pen ink “To Jackie Davis" and signed it “Sincerely James Dean."

Authentication: Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity and a James Spence Authentication (JSA) Letter of Authenticity.