|
Julien's Auctions said on Thursday that the collection, owned
by Briton David Gainsborough Roberts, is conservatively valued
at around $3 million. As well as several costumes and personal
wardrobe pieces owned by Monroe, the collection includes
posters, jewelry and personal prescriptions.
Gainsborough Roberts has said he began buying Monroe and other
memorabilia in 1991 and has amassed what is widely recognized as
the largest private collection of the movie icon's film costumes
in the world.
Gainsborough Roberts, who is in his 70s, said in a statement he
wanted to sell off the collection, which has been stored at his
home in Jersey, in the Channel Islands.
"It is now time for me to share this with the world,"
Gainsborough Roberts said, noting that Monroe would have turned
90 years old in June. The actress died in 1962 at the age of 36.
Highlights of the auction include the sheer black and nude
beaded cocktail dress Monroe wore in "Some Like it Hot" in 1959
while singing on top of a grand piano. That is expected to sell
for $200,000-$400,000, Julien's said.
The silver and white beaded dress Monroe wore in the 1954
musical "There's No Business Like Show Business" is estimated at
$100,000-$200,000, while the green satin leotard she wore in
"Bus Stop" could sell for up to $100,000, Julien's said.
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most sought-after celebrities for
collectors. The billowing ivory "subway" dress she wore in "The
Seven Year Itch" sold for a stage costume record of $5.5 million
in 2011.
The auction, to be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, will be
preceded by exhibitions of key pieces aboard the Queen Mary 2
ocean liner in August, and in London, Los Angeles and other
cities.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Richard Chang)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
