A signed passport photo of Marilyn Monroe and her new husband, Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, from their honeymoon in Japan in 1954 recently fetched over $21,000 at auction.
This small image, measuring 2.25 by 2.75 inches and featuring the inscription, “Thank you Mr. Bolds, my warm welcome, Marilyn Monroe DiMaggio,” sold for $21,655 on Wednesday, as reported by Boston-based RR Auctions.
The iconic couple, married just two weeks prior, visited a federal building in San Francisco on January 29, 1954, to secure passports for their trip to Japan and other work-related travels.
At that time, 27-year-old Monroe, born Norma Jean Mortenson, didn’t have any existing passport photos. So, she cleverly improvised, taking a photo of herself at a nearby arcade, inspired by her role in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” which led to multiple copies being made.
When DiMaggio, 40, returned about an hour later, Monroe signed one of the copies for Harry E. Balls, a passport officer, as the auction house detailed.
Although the signed vintage image wasn’t part of Monroe’s passport application, it was still a notable keepsake from that hectic day.
During their honeymoon, which lasted just nine months of marriage, the couple celebrated, and in February, Monroe even ventured into South Korea to entertain U.S. military troops, while also consulting for Japanese baseball teams in spring training.
DiMaggio was in the middle of Monroe’s three marriages. Her first husband was police officer James Dougherty, while her last was playwright Arthur Miller, who passed away young at 36.
