This photograph is from the estate of a retired General Motors executive, and was filed away and forgotten, for nearly 50 years!
From a HUGE archive of original large-format photographs by Los Angeles, California photographer PETER JAMES SAMERJAN.
In the late 1960's, General Motors hired Samerjan to shoot a series of photographs of actor and comedian JONATHAN WINTERS. These photos show Winters in multiple costumes, in various poses, as different characters he made famous. The photos were for use in a massive GM print-media advertising campaign. You may remember seeing some of the ads, as they appeared in newspapers, magazines, brochures, and posters across the country.
The photos were taken in the late 1960's, and as best I can tell, the ad campaign actually premiered in 1969.
Some of the photos were outtakes from photo shoots, (one-of-a-kind never published images,) and others were the actual photos used in the advertisements.
This is an ORIGINAL gelatin-silver photograph from that archive. It is a high-quality image, a true work of art, in its own right. This actual photograph was printed by the photographer and submitted to GM for their consideration.
The very large photo measures 11" x 14" and has Samerjan's ink stamp on backside.
The archive included ONLY ONE example of each pose. There were no duplicates, copies, or different sizes found. This is the only one, and no copies were made!
*** Also included is a vintage 11" x 14" General Motors ad slick proof, dated August 1969, showing this EXACT image.
Because photo was filed away, and protected from sunlight, it is in excellent condition, with no rips, tears, holes, creases, stains, or repairs.
Guaranteed to be an original 1960's photo, and not a copy or reproduction.
Please take a look at my other auctions for additional photos from this archive. Combined shipping happily offered, with no additional shipping charge for additional photos purchased. Please wait for a combined invoice with reduced shipping charges before making payment.
Samerjan was a highly respected Hollywood photographer in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. He helped to introduce the use of nude glamour into the field of advertising photography in the 1950s. Although he worked mainly as a fashion and advertising illustrator, he also became known for his pin-ups and beach glamour, with many of his photos appearing on the covers of photography magazines during the 1940s and 50s. His beach pin-ups appeared quite frequently in U.S. Camera beginning in 1950 or so, and his nudes were featured in publications such as Figure Photography Annual.
