Largest Ever Marilyn Monroe Auction Includes Costumes, Gowns, Artwork, Poetry, And More
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Marilyn Monroe fans will have a chance to bid on her gowns, costumes, artwork, poetry, even her medical prescriptions at an upcoming auction devoted to the star.
Some 800 of the movie star's personal effects will go up for auction November 19 and 20 in Los Angeles. The sale is being called the largest auction ever devoted to Monroe.
"We will be featuring personal items from her life, a very intimate look at Marilyn Monroe," said Jennifer Lorinzi of Julien's Auctions in an interview with Reuters. "We have some of the most iconic film costumes."
The beaded and sequined second-skin cocktail dress she wore while singing atop a grand piano in 'Some Like it Hot' will be part of the sale. It is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000.
Monroe's wardrobe from "Bus Stop," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," and "There's No Business Like Show Business" will also go to the highest bidder.
The items come from the collection of Briton David Gainsborough Roberts and the estate of the late Lee Strasberg, Monroe's actor coach and dear friend. Low estimates value Roberts' collection alone at about $3,000,000.
Monroe died in 1962 at the young age of 36, and would have turned 90 this year. Her personal effects are still among the most collectible items at auction. The iconic ivory dress she wore standing over the subway grating in "The Seven Year Itch" sold for a record $5.5 million in 2011.
CBSSF.com writer, producer Jan Mabry is also executive producer and host of The Bronze Report. She lives in Northern California. Follow her on Twitter @janmabr.