Sue Lyon as Lolita – Original Lolita Press Photograph – Stanley Kubrick / Vladimir Nabokov – 1962 – L-67

Description

A superb original black-and-white press photograph of Sue Lyon as Dolores “Lolita” Haze in Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita, dating from the film’s original 1962 release period.

The photograph measures 20.0 × 25.4 cm, approximately the classic 10 × 8-inch press format, and presents Lyon in a striking close portrait. Wrapped in a textured hood or shawl, she turns directly towards the camera with an intense, slightly guarded expression. It is an exceptionally strong image of Lyon in the role that defined her career and became inseparable from the visual history of Kubrick’s adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita.

The original production reference:

L-67

appears clearly at the lower-right corner of the image.

The reverse retains a Shields Gazette Library stamp and a clearly struck archive date of:

5 NOV 1962

The combination of production coding and contemporary newspaper-library dating places this individual print firmly within the original British release period of the film.

Stanley Kubrick, Nabokov and Lolita

Kubrick’s Lolita was adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel, one of the most celebrated and controversial works of twentieth-century fiction.

The film starred:

James Mason as Humbert Humbert
Shelley Winters as Charlotte Haze
Peter Sellers as Clare Quilty
Sue Lyon as Dolores “Lolita” Haze

The adaptation faced substantial censorship restrictions, forcing Kubrick to suggest rather than reproduce many of the novel’s more disturbing elements. That tension between Nabokov’s literary source and what could be shown on screen became central to the film’s reception and subsequent critical history.

Sue Lyon’s casting was crucial to the film’s identity. She had been only fourteen when selected for the role, and the publicity campaign built around her image became one of the most recognisable aspects of the film.

Original L-Series Production Photograph

The surviving L-67 code is particularly desirable.

Original Lolita publicity and production photographs are known with comparable L-series numbers, providing a useful internal link to the film’s original photographic campaign.

This means the present example is not simply a period portrait of Sue Lyon later associated with Lolita. It is an original production-numbered photograph from the film itself, preserved in a contemporary British newspaper archive.

Original British Release Provenance

The reverse carries the Shields Gazette Library stamp and an archive date of 5 November 1962.

This is important because it places the print in genuine newspaper use during the year of the film’s original release, rather than in a later retrospective context.

The surviving archive marks are part of the photograph’s working history and materially strengthen its provenance.

Collecting Significance

Original press photographs from Lolita occupy an interesting crossover market between:

• Stanley Kubrick collectors;
• Vladimir Nabokov collectors;
• Sue Lyon collectors;
• original film-still collectors;
• 1960s cinema;
• literary adaptation material;
• post-war cultural history.

Original-release-period Lolita photography is treated as serious specialist film material rather than ordinary celebrity ephemera.

Condition

Very good condition overall for an original working press photograph dating from 1962.

The image remains sharp and strongly contrasted, with excellent facial and textile detail.

There is light general age toning, minor surface and handling wear and modest edge and corner wear consistent with genuine newspaper-library use.

The reverse shows normal archive use, including some age-related marking, staining and handling wear.

The Shields Gazette Library stamp and 5 November 1962 archive date remain clearly visible.

Please study both front and reverse photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the description.

Details

Subject: Sue Lyon
Character: Dolores “Lolita” Haze
Film: Lolita
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Literary source: Vladimir Nabokov
Date: 1962
Production reference: L-67
Archive date: 5 November 1962
Photographer: Uncredited
Provenance: Shields Gazette photographic archive
Size: 20.0 × 25.4 cm
Format: Original black-and-white press photograph
Verso: Shields Gazette Library stamp and original 1962 archive date
Modern reproduction: No

Authenticity

This photograph has been handled, inspected and catalogued in-house at Hornseys.

Its period status and connection with Lolita are supported by the original L-67 production reference, the image itself and the contemporary 5 November 1962 Shields Gazette archive date.

It is an original release-period working press photograph and not a modern reproduction.

Why Buy From Us?

At Hornseys, we only offer items that meet the highest standards of quality and authenticity. Our collection of prints and photographs is carefully curated to ensure each piece is authentic.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Authenticity and Provenance: Every photograph is researched, collated, and verified for authenticity.
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Visit Hornseys to explore our fine collection of rare and antique prints and photographs. Whether you are an avid collector or looking for a unique historical piece, our selection offers something truly exceptional. Located in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, our Ripon gallery has been a haven for art enthusiasts, historians, and collectors since 1976.

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