Christmas Card to Marilyn Monroe from Writer Ansel Bertram Legrand
This original Christmas card, received by Marilyn Monroe in December 1948, dates to one of the earliest and most formative periods of her career. Addressed to Marilyn at Columbia Pictures Studios in Hollywood, the card reflects her brief but significant association with the studio, where she was under contract from March through September 1948. During this time, Marilyn appeared in Ladies of the Chorus, her first starring role and an important step in her emergence as a professional actress.
The card was sent by Ansel Bertram LeGrand of Quebec, Canada, a journalist and writer who corresponded with Marilyn during the early years of her rise to public recognition. In his handwritten message, LeGrand expresses gratitude for a Christmas card Marilyn had previously sent to him, writing:
“A brief little wish. Be it ever so true, cause its straight from my heart. A Merry Christmas ‘to you’ Maryln. I was more than surprised to receive a nice Xmas card from you Marlyn when in Montreal. Very nice of you to remember me. Will be waiting on a letter from you. Good luck + best regards. From Ansel.”
The envelope, addressed to “Marylin Munroe,” preserves a telling detail of Marilyn’s early career, when her name was not yet universally recognized or consistently spelled. Such variations were common during this transitional period, as Norma Jeane had only recently adopted the professional name Marilyn Monroe and was still establishing her identity within the motion picture industry.
This Christmas card provides rare and personal insight into Marilyn Monroe’s early relationships and correspondence during her Columbia Studios period. It reflects a moment when she was still at the beginning of her ascent, building connections and maintaining communication with individuals who followed her emerging career. Preserved from 1948, the card reflects the growing recognition that would soon make her one of the most famous figures in the world.
Collector’s Note
This card dates to 1948, the year Monroe appeared in Ladies of the Chorus at Columbia, her first starring role. She was not yet twenty three. The professional name was less than two years old. The envelope spelling confirms it was not yet widely known.
What the card documents is that she was already corresponding with people who were paying attention. LeGrand writes that he was surprised to receive a card from her, which means she had reached out to him first. That detail is easy to overlook but worth sitting with. She was building relationships at a moment when there was no obvious reason to expect anything would come of it.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
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