Absolutely knockout vintage matte-finish 10 x 13 photo (on a 12 x 16 photographer’s mount) of the young Hayward in a seductive pose, signed and inscribed in blue fountain pen on the mount, “To Johnny with all the gratitude in the world—X Susan.” The original recipient, John Engstead, was hired as an office boy at Paramount Studios in 1926 and within a few years had become the studio’s Art Supervisor. For the next several decades, he enjoyed a career as a highly sought-after celebrity and glamour photographer; much of his work was collected in the 1978 book Star Shots: Fifty Years of Pictures and Stories by One of Hollywood’s Greatest Photographers. Matted and framed to an overall size of 19.5 x 25. The most spectacular Hayward image we’ve ever handled! In very good condition, with a touch of soiling and light water damage to lower portion of mount (partially obscured by mat) resulting in slight feathering to ink, scarcely detracting from the magnetic presentation. PSA/DNA COA and R&R COA. Oversized.
