The Wikicollecting Top 10 Most Expensive Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia Discover the most valuable items of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia ever sold at auction with this top 10 guide from Wikicollecting.
News-Antique.com - Oct 17,2011 - 10) Travelling case and make-up
The folding make-up case was sold during the auction of Monroe’s personal property by Christie’s in New York in 1999. Along with a selection of make-up, the box also included a pair of false eyelashes by Glorene of Hollywood, a small collection of restaurant matchbooks and a bottle of smelling salts.
The box appeared in the sale with an estimated price of $1,000 - $1,5000, and amazed the entire auction room by selling for a final price of $266,500.
9) Pink ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ dress
The performance of ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ is certainly one of Monroe’s most iconic (and often imitated) screen moments. During a Profiles in History auction in June 2010 the Travilla-designed dress sold for a price of $310,000, despite rumours it was an unused prototype and not the item worn onscreen.
8) Black cocktail dress
During a Julien’s auction in May 2011, this black crepe cocktail dress with a plunging ‘V’ neckline and low-cut back sold for a price of $348,000.
The dress had been worn by Marilyn whilst attending a Beverly Hills Hotel party, and was featured on the cover of the photography book ‘Marilyn Monroe – From beginning to End’ by Michael Ventura.
7) ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ Heat Wave dress
Monroe’s performance of the Irving Berlin song ‘Heat Wave’ during the 1954 film ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ is a deliberately sultry affair, helped in large part by the Travillia-designed dress she wears.
The dress was sold as part of the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood memorabilia collection at Profiles In History in June 2011, for a price of $500,000.
6) ‘River of No Return’ dress
The Reynolds collection auction also saw the sale of a stunning gold and red saloon girl dress worn by Monroe in the 1954 Western ‘The River of No Return’. Originally created for Betty Grable in 1953, the dress was given the classic Travilla treatment and worn by Marilyn as she sings the film’s title song.
The dress far surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $80,000 - $120,000, eventually selling for a price of $510,000.
5) White piano
The white piano was one of Monroe’s most treasured possessions, having originally belonged to her mother. The piano was later sold when her mother was sadly sectioned, and Marilyn spent a number of years tracking the instrument down before she bought it back. The first chapter of her posthumously published book My Story is entitled ‘How I rescued a white piano’, demonstrating her close attachment to it.
It was purchased by the singer Mariah Carey during the Christie’s sale of Monroe’s possessions in 1999 for a price of $662,500.
4) Joe DiMaggio wedding band
Monroe’s marriage to baseball star Joe DiMaggio may not have lasted, but the story of their iconic relationship still endures. The ring given to Marilyn by DiMaggio is a platinum and diamond eternity band set with thirty-five baguette-cut diamonds, and was last sold at Christie’s
