Details:

Blaze Starr original vintage gelatin silver glossy photograph by James J. Kriegsmann, measuring approximately 10 x 8 inches, depicting Starr at the height of her fame as “The Hottest Blaze in Burlesque.” The image dates to May 1957 and was produced for Comedy magazine, with later documented reuse in October 1962 for Gaze. Starr is shown in a classic glamour pose emblematic of mid-century burlesque and pin-up photography.

The photograph has been professionally encapsulated and certified by PSA/DNA as a Type 1 original photograph, confirming it as a first-generation print made from the original negative within the period of use. The negative bears Kriegsmann’s stamp, with period grease pencil notations “G-5-57” and “G-10-62,” along with file number #5256 on verso. The verso also carries the THE O’CLOCK CLUB stamp (414 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD).

Fine condition. From the archives of Martin Goodman, publisher of Humorama.

The verso is clean. Any apparent spotting visible in the slabbed images is solely a visual effect caused by the PSA plastic holder and is not present on the physical photograph itself.

Blaze Starr (1932–2015), born Fannie Belle Fleming, was one of the most famous burlesque performers of the 1950s and early 1960s. Beyond her stage career, she became nationally known for her documented romantic relationship with John F. Kennedy during his tenure as a U.S. Senator. Their association—later confirmed by Starr herself—has made her a permanent figure in Kennedy-era political and cultural history, frequently referenced in studies of JFK’s private life and Cold War–era Washington society.

James J. Kriegsmann (1905–1983) was among the most important celebrity and glamour photographers of the mid-20th century, photographing Hollywood stars, pin-up icons, and burlesque legends. His work appeared widely in men’s and humor magazines and is prized for its clarity, composition, and historical significance.

The publications associated with this image were digest-sized magazines filled with original “good girl” art by artists such as George Crenshaw, Dan DeCarlo, Bill Wenzel, and Bill Ward, alongside photography of glamour queens and burlesque icons. This visual culture also included photographers such as Keith Bernard, Earl Leaf, and Russ Meyer, later famed for “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”

A PSA/DNA Type 1 glamour photograph with exceptional provenance—uniting classic burlesque, JFK-era political intrigue, and golden-age pin-up photography—ideal for advanced collectors of mid-century American culture, presidential history, and glamour photography.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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A 25% Buyers Premium Will Be Added to All Winning Bids

Reference sku: 11674 1413637-1