Sold For $3,660
*Includes Buyers Premium
Rita Hayworth’s personal passport, number 20917, issued on February 28, 1947. Passport measures 3.75 x 6, and contains her typed personal information on the third page, signed at the bottom “Margarita Carmen Welles.” Affixed on the reverse of the personal information page is Hayworth’s 3 x 3 passport snapshot, signed across the upper left corner. Photo bears an embossed State Department seal over top portion and a “canceled” stamping. Also, on the inside front cover, Hayworth has added her home address. A separate page bears a small photo of the actress’ 3-year-old daughter, Rebecca. Several of the inside pages bear official visa stamps including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland. In fine condition, with expected handling wear, some scattered light page soiling, and, of course, various country stamps and cancellation stamps.
Already a Hollywood star, Hayworth had been elevated to cultural icon and the ultimate femme fatale by the time the US State Department issued her this passport. However, both her career and her life would take a downward spiral soon after obtaining this document. The commercial failure of her next picture—the film noir The Lady from Shanghai, directed by her husband, Orson Welles, and in which she dyed her red locks blonde—forced her retreat from Hollywood and Welles, whom she divorced in November 1947. With this passport in hand, Hayworth set out to crisscross the world, taking her, as noted by the various stampings, across Europe. While traveling abroad the stunning actress met Prince Aly Khan on the French Riviera, and in 1948 left her film career to marry him. A truly remarkable, one-of-a-kind piece of Hollywood history, and the first such “Margarita Carmen Welles” signature we have offered! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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