Rare Academy Award for Photography Sells for $45K at Auction

An extremely rare Academy Award medal for still photography, presented in 1947 to Earnest Bachrach sold for $45,049 on Wednesday, according to Amherst, NH-based auction house RR Auction.

A revered photographer of Hollywood's 'Golden Age,' Bachrach was given the medal by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for his work on Crossfire and The Farmer's Daughter.

He was especially well-known for his portrait studies of great actors and actress, including a series of color shots of Marilyn Monroe; also admired for his versatility, Bachrach's production work on King Kong is noted for the various effect shots and composites he produced both for continuity and the promotional campaign.

Only two other medals such as this are known to exist, one awarded to Merritt Sibbald in 1941 and the other to Scotty Welbourne in 1942.

"Bachrach was one of the most influential and admired of all the Hollywood portrait photographers and his work is arguably the most collectible of any of his peers," says Bobby Livingston, VP at RR Auction.

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

- An autographed photograph of Marilyn Monroe sold for $32,525.

- Paul Newman's working script for the Academy Award Winning Film - The Sting sold for $21,013.

- Dean Cain's Superman costume, used in the television series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman sold for $18,940.

More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com.

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