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Monroe items all the rage at Hollywood memorabilia sale

Written by . Published: December 18 2011

A treasure trove of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia went under the hammer at an auction in Los Angeles on Friday (16Dec11), and two signed photos sent the bidding wild.


The Profiles in History Icons of Hollywood sale produced many big surprises as items went for much more than their expected price and Monroe's booty was a prize pick-up.


Camera negatives from the film Some Like It Hot sold for $1,500 - five times their expected sales price - and rare shots of Monroe and Clark Gable on the set of The Misfits went under the hammer for $2,000 - over three times what they were expected to fetch.


Highlights of the Monroe lots also included an autographed letter signed by the 18-year-old 'Norma Jeane' $52,500; a personal Monroe photograph signed by Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Gary Cooper $60,000; a portrait of a young Marilyn wearing a sheer lace trim, signed $37,500, and Monroe's invitation to a John F. Kennedy birthday celebration $40,000.


Other big items going under the hammer during Friday afternoon's auction session included the screen-used prop vellum treasure map from 1934 film Treasure Island $60,000; the Mattel hoverboard from Back to the Future II $22,500; Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly Clint Eastwood hat from Back to the Future III $19,000; Anthony Quinn's Auda Abu Tayi costume from Lawrence of Arabia $22,500; Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s marriage license from their Las Vegas wedding $7,000, and the Roman costume worn by Christopher Plummer as Commodus in The Fall of the Roman Empire $15,000.

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