RARE DOORS / JIM MORRISON 1ST GIRLFRIEND MARY WERBELOW ARCHIVE LOT #2

Description

[JIM MORRISON, THE DOORS, MARY WERBELOW]
On offer here is the 2nd group of material from
MARY WERBELOW, JIM MORRISON'S 1ST GIRLFRIEND (1962 - 1965)
.
This 2nd lot of material is comprised of Mary's photographs
- mostly of herself. She seemed to use these images of herself to hone her artistic skills which she used to make her living as an artist. We believe she created these images of herself with no intention to market, merely for practice. But one can see her level of artistic skill.  Also included is a worn portfolio of her art which has her artwork of a lesser quality; either damaged, unfinished or both. We grouped it together with the photos for the value it presents. It could also have import for a person seeking to do additional research into her work.
[We plan to offer the Mary Werbelow material in two primary lots + individual works of her art in separate auctions - ask questions if something seems unclear. We have no plans to 'part out' or split up these first two primary groups - yes we watermarked the images so things aren't spammed everywhere without proper context. If someone wants a mark free image, please ask so we can discuss]
This group of material is varied but contains several items of interest for a Door's enthusiast or Jim Morrison fan.
All of the images included in this lot are shown. They vary somewhat in size but most are 8 x 10 or larger. Some are 11x14.
Mary Werbelow is / was (we are unaware of her current status) famously private if not reclusive. She has shunned attention and ever since she and Jim broke up in 1965, she has seemed to be fleeing the discomfort and malcontent of their relationship ending.
Mary first went to India, then came back to America and then lived in Hawaii for a number of years. Mary continued her work as a professional artist a gift she seems to have had for her whole life. She was able to maintain herself as a working artist during and after her two marriages, until she was stricken with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) disorder. She apparently acquired this illness as a result of the misuse of an pesticide in the building where her art studio was located.
She received a monetary settlement in the 1980's which enabled her to survive for a number of years, but at some point those funds became exhausted and she fell on hard times. Mary also was challenged with other health issues some of which resulted in surgeries and additional treatment.
What we know of Mary's life is really only gleaned from two primary sources. A 2005 interview she granted Robert Farley of the Tampa Bay Times ('
Mary & Jim To The End'
- September 25, 2005) and her brief contact with an old friend Bill Cosgrave and detailed in his book '
Love Her Madly - Jim Morrison, Mary and Me
' (Dundurn, 2020). It does not appear Mary ever sought to gain fame or income from her relationship with Jim. In fact, we learned Mary on TWO occasions refused significant money from filmmaker Oliver Stone for her story in preparation for his 1991 film '
The Doors
' starring Val Kilmer.
Provenance:
This group is from the effects of
Ms. Mary Werbelow. Mary is well known as the 1st and arguably most important girlfriend of the Rock & Roll icon, Jim Morrison of the 1960's music group 'The Doors'.
It is the opinion of several personal friends of Jim & Mary and objective observers that the summer 1965 breakup of Jim & Mary began a chain of events that not only formed the foundation of the Doors music but also set up the two different life trajectories for Jim & Mary which left them both unfulfilled in their personal relationships which initiated Jim's drug abuse and ultimately his death in 1971.
Ms. Werbelow's effects were lost in a storage unit auction. We acquired a selection of personal items and artwork produced by Mary from her career as a professional artist.
Please email any questions -