Rapper Jay-Z and wife Beyonce unveiled highly-anticipated pictures of their new baby daughter Blue Ivy Carter on Friday, opting to post intimate family shots on social networking site Tumblr rather than selling them to the highest bidder.

"We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives," "The Carter family" posted on microblogging site Tumblr.

The couple posted five photos which show the newborn, already sporting a head of long black hair, being cuddled by her proud parents and capturing intimate moments of family life.

Baby Blue Ivy, born on January 7 in New York, has been shielded from the public by Jay-Z and Beyonce until now. The couple shunned the popular celebrity choice to unveil their offspring in lucrative magazine deals and opted to make the pictures available at no cost on the Internet.

Former Destiny's Child singer Beyonce, 30, and "Watch The Throne" rapper Jay-Z, 42, married in 2008, and Blue Ivy is their first child.

Beyonce and Jay-Z released the first photos of their daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

The first photos of Beyonce's baby Blue Ivy Carter were released to the world on Friday by Beyonce and husband Jay-Z. Skeptics once again questioned whether or not the child is biologically theirs.

Beyonce and Jay-Z released these first photos of their daughter blue Ivy Carter.

Blue Ivy Carter Photos

The first photos of Beyonce's baby Blue Ivy Carter were released to the world on Friday by Beyonce and husband Jay-Z. Skeptics once again questioned whether or not the child is biologically theirs.

Message to Fans