CHRISTIE'S MILLION DOLLAR BABY
MARILYN MONROE: PERSONAL PROPERTY AUCTIONED OFF IN NEW YORK - Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th, October 1999 and brings in millions.
Fans of Marilyn Monroe had a chance to grab a piece of their idol. The weekend brought in one of the largest gatherings and memorabilia seekers, collectors and dealers who wanted to own a piece of Marilyn. The auction house, Christie's offered up personal belongings ranging from bra cups to her little black book and a watercolour she painted for President Kennedy were auctioned in Los Angeles.
The 1962 painting of a red rose fetched $78,000 (£43,000), almost ten times its estimate. The screen siren originally planned to give it to Kennedy for his birthday, and the handwritten inscription reads: “Happy Birthday Pres. Kennedy from Marilyn Monroe.”
But the actress never gave the painting to the President and later inscribed it to herself on her 36th and final birthday on June 1, 1962. She died of a drug overdose on August 5 that year. The second inscription reads: “Happy Birthday June 1, 1962/My Best Wishes/Marilyn/Marilyn.”
Hundreds turned up to bid for 298 of Monroe’s possessions, including fishnet stockings and suspender belts, a dog license for her basset hound, Hugo, and a note from her beauty salon telling her how to dye her platinum hair.
The belongings were sold by Monroe’s estate, which is controlled by descendants of her former acting coach, Lee Strasberg, and had been withdrawn from an earlier sale at Christie’s because they were considered too personal.
The crowd was cheering and bidders with budgets continued to bid in a frenzy. One women who put a limit of $500 for a pair of Marilyn's pantyhose ended up bidding $950 just to take home a piece of clothing that Marilyn once wore.
The top price of $90,000 was achieved by Monroe’s address book, containing the private numbers of husbands, lovers and Hollywood friends.
The tan leather ring-bound book, dating from shortly before the actress’s suicide in 1962, lists her ex-husbands Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller as well as stars such as Jack Lemmon, Peter Lawford, Montgomery Clift, John Huston, Henry Fonda, Jack Benny and Yves Montand. Five numbers are given for Frank Sinatra.
A one-page document entitled “Final Judgment of Divorce”, formalising Monroe’s divorce from the baseball star DiMaggio on October 31, 1955, fetched about $12,000. The paper lists Monroe, who was born Norma Jean Mortenson, as plaintiff under the name “Norma Jean DiMaggio”.
Monroe’s bras, estimated at $200 to $300, fetched $3,000 to $6,000. The bra cups brought in $1,800.
Happy Birthday Mr. President Invitation
Program for "Happy Birthday, Mr. President. New York's Birthday Salute to President Kennedy" Madison Square Garden, May 19, 1962, 4 pages. Original Estimate was $10,000 - 15,000
Eternity Band
A platinum band set with thirty-five baguette-cut diamonds (one diamond missing), given to Marilyn Monroe by Joe DiMaggio after their 1954 wedding. Original Estimate was $30,000 - 50,000. Price rose very quickly on this item, finally coming down to two bidders for the last few hundred thousand dollars. Hammer price was $700,000.
Happy Birthday Mr. President Dress:
A full length evening sheath dress of flesh colored souffle gauze encrusted with graduated rhinestones embroidered in a rosette motif. Worn by Marilyn Monroe at the famous birthday tribute to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden where she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" on May 19, 1962. This has to be one of the most expensive dresses sold, with the final price hammered down at $1,150,000.
A quote from Marilyn Monroe from years back in a personal interview rang true the evening of her auction at Christie's Auction House. She loved her fans and they loved her and brought her into their hearts and made her family.
Fans of Marilyn Monroe had a chance to grab a piece of their idol. The weekend brought in one of the largest gatherings and memorabilia seekers, collectors and dealers who wanted to own a piece of Marilyn. The auction house, Christie's offered up personal belongings ranging from bra cups to her little black book and a watercolour she painted for President Kennedy were auctioned in Los Angeles.
The 1962 painting of a red rose fetched $78,000 (£43,000), almost ten times its estimate. The screen siren originally planned to give it to Kennedy for his birthday, and the handwritten inscription reads: “Happy Birthday Pres. Kennedy from Marilyn Monroe.”
But the actress never gave the painting to the President and later inscribed it to herself on her 36th and final birthday on June 1, 1962. She died of a drug overdose on August 5 that year. The second inscription reads: “Happy Birthday June 1, 1962/My Best Wishes/Marilyn/Marilyn.”
Hundreds turned up to bid for 298 of Monroe’s possessions, including fishnet stockings and suspender belts, a dog license for her basset hound, Hugo, and a note from her beauty salon telling her how to dye her platinum hair.
The belongings were sold by Monroe’s estate, which is controlled by descendants of her former acting coach, Lee Strasberg, and had been withdrawn from an earlier sale at Christie’s because they were considered too personal.
The crowd was cheering and bidders with budgets continued to bid in a frenzy. One women who put a limit of $500 for a pair of Marilyn's pantyhose ended up bidding $950 just to take home a piece of clothing that Marilyn once wore.
The top price of $90,000 was achieved by Monroe’s address book, containing the private numbers of husbands, lovers and Hollywood friends.
The tan leather ring-bound book, dating from shortly before the actress’s suicide in 1962, lists her ex-husbands Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller as well as stars such as Jack Lemmon, Peter Lawford, Montgomery Clift, John Huston, Henry Fonda, Jack Benny and Yves Montand. Five numbers are given for Frank Sinatra.
A one-page document entitled “Final Judgment of Divorce”, formalising Monroe’s divorce from the baseball star DiMaggio on October 31, 1955, fetched about $12,000. The paper lists Monroe, who was born Norma Jean Mortenson, as plaintiff under the name “Norma Jean DiMaggio”.
Monroe’s bras, estimated at $200 to $300, fetched $3,000 to $6,000. The bra cups brought in $1,800.
Happy Birthday Mr. President Invitation
Program for "Happy Birthday, Mr. President. New York's Birthday Salute to President Kennedy" Madison Square Garden, May 19, 1962, 4 pages. Original Estimate was $10,000 - 15,000
Eternity Band
A platinum band set with thirty-five baguette-cut diamonds (one diamond missing), given to Marilyn Monroe by Joe DiMaggio after their 1954 wedding. Original Estimate was $30,000 - 50,000. Price rose very quickly on this item, finally coming down to two bidders for the last few hundred thousand dollars. Hammer price was $700,000.
Happy Birthday Mr. President Dress:
A full length evening sheath dress of flesh colored souffle gauze encrusted with graduated rhinestones embroidered in a rosette motif. Worn by Marilyn Monroe at the famous birthday tribute to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden where she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" on May 19, 1962. This has to be one of the most expensive dresses sold, with the final price hammered down at $1,150,000.
A quote from Marilyn Monroe from years back in a personal interview rang true the evening of her auction at Christie's Auction House. She loved her fans and they loved her and brought her into their hearts and made her family.
"I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else."
Book Photo: Christie's - New York Book. The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe. Available for sale in our shop. $195.00.
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