First Edition List of Live Models. Colored Girls Available for Modeling.

Los Angeles: Sepia Productions, Circa 1948. Quarto, stapled booklet measuring 8.75 x 7.75", 12 pp, photographic illustrations. A well illustrated catalog of African American female models available for hire from Sepia Productions, a Los Angeles based talent agency. Sepia was the brainchild of Eddie Green, a famed African American actor, director, and radio personality known for his voice work in the Amos n' Andy show and for the "race pictures" produced by his film studio. In 1940, he hosted the "Miss Sepia America" beauty contest. Sepia Productions, was founded in 1946, while Green died in 1950, dating the catalog from this period. It consists largely of portraits of models and showgirls, some scantily clad. Text on the first page notes that "These girls are of fine character and expect to be treated as such. They reserve the right to accept or refuse any offer of employment...The showgirls are used by us in television productions; the others are on our list of extras." A note on an interior page reads "We believe that the serious minded artist will find in the professional colored girl model, that elusive something that is needed for ones best efforts." Each model within, meanwhile, is accompanied by a handwritten letter to be referenced while requesting the individual. Not found in OCLC. Vertical crease through center, foxing and creasing to pages, in good condition. Item #12659

Price: $750.00