Memorabilia of the late model and movie star Marilyn Monroe will be put up for auction, providing a rare glimpse into the private life of one of Hollywood's most famous legends, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
Details
Among the lots are items from her wardrobe, jewelry, letters, handwritten notes, paintings, and poems.
"Marilyn is a true icon," said Brian Chanes, Senior Director of Hollywood and Entertainment at Heritage Auctions, during a preview of the collection on Friday. "People love and adore Marilyn to this day."
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, she became a famous actress, model, singer, and sex symbol, renowned for her blonde hair and hourglass figure. She died in 1962.
Heritage Auctions is opening public bidding on items from the collection of poets Norman and Hedda Rosten, close friends and confidants of Monroe. The auction, which will take place on June 1, coincides with the star's 100th birth anniversary and includes personal belongings dating from 1955 to 1962.
Among the most notable lots are never-before-published documents that shed light on Monroe's inner life. The documents explore her romantic relationships, fears regarding a lost pregnancy, and her reflections on mortality.
"This is a truly special lot because these are not materials that have been bought and sold for decades," Chanes said. "This is a real discovery."
From costume jewelry worn by Monroe to artworks she once held in her hands, the collection offers buyers a glimpse into her personal world. The auction also features correspondence with her former husband, playwright Arthur Miller, revealing the emotional complexities of their marriage, as well as a previously unpublished letter from Monroe's psychiatrist describing the day preceding her death.
Chanes particularly highlighted one poignant document from the period of filming "Some Like It Hot." On stationery from the Hotel del Coronado, she pleaded for help as her struggles threatened to derail the production.
"Right before she almost died of an overdose and filming had to be stopped, she wrote: 'I feel like I'm drowning,'" Chanes recalls.
"You can feel the pain in her writing," he added, noting that on the same letterhead, Monroe drew a stick figure submerged in water and crying out for help—an image that underscores the mental health challenges she faced throughout her career.
Matthew Perry's belongings and signed "Friends" scripts to be sold at auction - AP06.05.26, 13:04