Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and Marilyn Monroe’s Engagement Ring Set for Auction



The last pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz will be auctioned off at Profiles in History’s “Icons of Hollywood” sale Dec. 15–17 in Calabasas Hills, Calif. They are estimated to sell for $2 million–$3 million.

There are four pairs of ruby slippers that have survived since the movie’s 1939 release. One is the centerpiece of the Icons of American Culture exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, one was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn., and the third is privately owned.

The pair going on the auction block next week is marked on the inside lining “#7 Judy Garland” and the leather soles are painted red on the bottom. The lack of felt—in addition to light, circular scuffs evident on the soles—indicate their use in the extra-close-up or “insert” shots when Garland clicks her heels together at the film’s climax.

Rebecca Spaid, director of marketing for AmRhein’s in Roanoke Va., had a great promotional idea if these slippers happened to land in a jewelry store. “I think a costume contest is always fun,” she says. “See what customer can come in that looks the most like Dorothy, right down to her basket and Toto.”

Spaid also thought the ruby slippers would be a perfect fit in her family’s story because of their new logo and red color scheme. “We could play up the ‘ruby’ theme tying in all divisions of our company,” she says. “Other ruby jewelry, a ruby-colored cocktail dress or gown, a tuxedo with ruby-colored vest and tie, and a bottle of our Ruby wine!”

Prior to auction, the slippers will be displayed Dec. 7–8 at jeweler Solange Azagury-Partridge’s New York City store on Madison Avenue to benefit New Yorkers for Children.

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The wedding ring Marilyn Monroe received from New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio will also be auctioned off at the event.

The ring is a platinum eternity band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds—with one diamond missing—that was given to Monroe on the couple’s wedding day on Jan. 14, 1954. It is expected to fetch $300,000–$500,000.

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