A collection of 74 contact prints of Marilyn Monroe taken by Richard Avedon for Life in 1957.
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000. Sold for: $14,000.
Profiles in History, a memorabilia and historical collectible dealer best knownauctioning off some of Hollywood's most coveted movie props and costumes, recently finished up its Hollywood Auction #56. Notable items from past auctions have included the hat of the Wicked Witch of the West, Marilyn Monroe's famous "Subway dress" from The Seven Year Itch, and a Luke Skywalker light saber screen-used in Star Wars. This time around, potential Hollywood collectors had the chance to bit on some unusual props, plenty of costumes, and more Hollywood glamor prints than Rafiki could shake a stick at.
Who could resist owning a piece of Hollywood history? (As long as they had the cash, of course.) Let's take a look at the highlights!
Two vintage black-and-white 11x14" master prints of Marilyn Monroe from the "Balalaika" sitting by Milton H. Greene.
Estimate: $300-500. Sold for: $1,200.
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Four vintage 10.25x13.25" master prints of Marilyn Monroe by Carl Perutz.
Estimate: $300-500. Sold for: $7,000.
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A handwritten note by Marilyn Monroe to her niece, signed "Marilyn, your auntie."(Note's text)
Estimate: $4,000-$6,000. Sold for: $11,000.
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A collection of 12 vintage contact print sheets of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller by Richard Avedon.
Estimate: $2,000-3,000. Sold for $14,000.
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A collection of 5 portraits of Katharine Hepburn by Cecil Beaton for Vanity Fair.
Estimate: $400-600. Sold for: $2,500.
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Oversized signed portrait of Carole Lombard by George Hurrell.
Estimate: $300-500. Sold for: $1,300.
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Collection of 15 studio camera negatives of Bela Lugosi in Dracula.
Estimate: $3,000-5,000. Sold for: $15,500.
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James Gandolfini's screen-worn "Tony Soprano" costume from the final scene of The Sopranos.
Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Sold for: $22,000.
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The "Tramp" cane screen-used by Charlie Chaplin for Modern Times.
Estimate: $120,000-150,000. Sold for: $350,000.
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Original screen-used matte painting by Fitch Fulton of "Tara" from Gone with the Wind.
Estimate: $60,000-80,000. Sold for: $225,000.
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Early "Dorothy" dress designed by Gilbert Adrian and worn by Judy Garland from the early Richard Thorpe-directed filming of The Wizard of Oz. (This costume was worn for the first two weeks of filming under Richard Thorpe; production was halted and Dorothy's look was redesigned.)
Estimate: $80,000-120,000. Sold for: $300,000.
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Ten Commandments tablets props from The Ten Commandments.
Estimate: $20,000-30,000. Sold for: $25,000.
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Collection of 21 costumes worn by Julie Andrews and the "Von Trapp" children from The Sound of Music.
Including the signature "Maria" dress, the yellow skirt suit worn by Maria after her honeymoon, the Von Trapp "Drapery" costumes, the Von Trapp school uniforms, the "Kurt" costume from So Long, Farewell, the "Brigitta" costume from the Do-Re-Mi montage, and three "Liesel" costumes.
Estimate: $800,000-$1,200,000. Sold for: $1,300,000.
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Signature red hoodie worn by Henry Thomas as "Elliot" in E.T.
Estimate: $6,000-8,000. Sold for: $35,000.
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Screen-used whip used by "Indiana Jones" in 1981, 1984 and 1989.
Estimate: $40,000-60,000. Sold for: $95,000.
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Screen-used half-scale "Spiral Hill" set piece from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Estimate: $12,000-15,000. Sold for: $70,000.
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A porcelain doll owned by "Claudia" from Interview with The Vampire.
Estimate: $600-800. Sold for: $1,300.
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Screen-used hammer from The Shawshank Redemption.
One of three hammers created for Andy Dufresne; each hammer given a weathered/deteriorated look to show the passage of time. This is the "second stage" hammer.
Estimate: $2,000-3,000. Sold for: $32,500.
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A bench used for the bus stop scenes in Forrest Gump.
Estimate: $8,000-12,000. Sold for: $25,000.
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Prop ticket won by "Jack Dawson" in Titanic.
Estimate: $600-800. Sold for: $1,500.
source: list is my own creation, original images are from the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction #56 flipbook, estimations & realized prices from Artfact.com
Would you ever bid on a piece of Hollywood history, ONTD? Is there a prop or costume that you'd love to own? I'll admit I put a bid in on the Titanic ticket--sadly, to my pre-teen self's utter despair, I did not win.