Large salesman's sample of a calendar for 1955 entitled "The Lure of Lace," 16 x 34, featuring Tom Kelly's classic 'Golden Dreams' image of the nude Marilyn Monroe with black lace negligee overprint. Below, the calendar's heading advertises: "Your Imprint Here Will Make Friends For You All Year." Framed to an overall size of 18 x 36. In fine condition.
On May 27, 1949, in Los Angeles, Monroe posed nude for Tom Kelly on red velvet and was paid $50 for the sitting, signing the release on the photos as ‘Mona Monroe.’ In February 1952, two years after the original calendar was published, a wire service reporter, Ailene Mosby, discovered that the featured beauty was none other than Marilyn Monroe and a scandal broke. Fox Studio executives panicked and called Monroe in to ask if it was indeed her. Monroe affirmed that it was and soon after released a press statement explaining that she posed nude because she was penniless and needed to pay her bills. Her fan mail increased dramatically after her confession, and her latest movie, Clash by Night, opened to big business. This example of the classic calendar, printed a few years later, reveals the identity of the subject in its caption: "Posed by Marilyn Monroe In The Nude, With Lace Overprint."
