Striking and superlative matte-finish 9.25 x 11.5 three-quarter-length formal photo of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier laden with decorations, by Howell Conant, New York, signed in the lower border in ink “Grace de Monaco” and “Rainier Prince de Monaco.” Also included: the original mailing envelope, postmarked Monaco, October 9, 1973, addressed to Rose La Belle at MGM. Plus: a swatch of lace from Grace’s wedding dress, measuring approximately 12 x 1.5, in a vintage MGM envelope with typed caption “Piece of Material from Grace Kelly’s Wedding Gown by Helen Rose, MGM designer.” Plus: An ALS of provenance from La Belle, a former secretary to Oscar-winning director Lewis Milestone, dated November 22, 1996. In part: “The attached material which is lace is from wedding gown that Grace Kelly wore in 1956 when she married Prince Rainier in Monaco. It was given to me by Edith Rose, Head of Wardrobe Dept. @ MGM Studio @ that time....” Conant (circa 1916–1999), who photographed Grace over a period of more than 25 years, coauthored a 1992 book titled Grace: An Intimate Portrait of Princess Grace by Her Friend and Favorite Photographer. Faint diagonal line of surface marks or touch-ups across Rainier’s chest (visible mainly from an angle), otherwise fine, clean condition. RRAuction COA.
