Never-before-seen photographs of Marilyn Monroe, along with her handwritten secret recipe for Thanksgiving turkey stuffing, are set to go under the hammer at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. The auction, titled '100 Years of Marilyn,' commemorates what would have been the Hollywood icon's 100th birthday on June 1.
A Glimpse into Monroe's Private Life
The collection includes between 350 and 400 lots, featuring documents, wardrobe items, and even the wooden gates to her Los Angeles home. Martin Nolan, co-founder of Julien's Auctions, remarked: 'There was a world before Marilyn Monroe and a profoundly different one after. She remains a once-in-a-generation star whose influence reshaped culture and continues to resonate today.'
Highlights of the Auction
Among the standout pieces is a never-before-seen black-and-white photograph by Allan Grant, taken in 1962, less than a month before her death. Another rare image shows Monroe on the set of the 1955 comedy The Seven Year Itch, surrounded by her make-up and hairdressing team. Additionally, one of her first professional headshots, circa 1944, captures her as teenager Norma Jean before her transformation into Marilyn Monroe.
Personal items include a 1950s Jeanne Lanvin ivory silk evening gown embellished with gold-tone sequins, rhinestones, and faux pearls; her 1949 William Morris Agency contract; and her 1956 Screen Actors Guild membership card. A 1954 signed photograph of Monroe and her then-husband Joe DiMaggio walking off a plane in Japan during their 'working' honeymoon is also up for grabs.
Monroe's handwritten recipe for Thanksgiving turkey stuffing offers a glimpse into her domestic side. Other curiosities include bank cheques that reveal her whereabouts and purchases, as well as her Max Factor lipstick, Lip Pomade 7-22, used during production of her last unfinished film, Something's Got To Give (1962).
The Enduring Legacy of Marilyn Monroe
Margaret Barrett, head of Hollywood memorabilia at Julien's, noted: 'The star's possessions reveal her tastes, likes, style, aspirations, work ethic, innermost feelings, close friends and physical place in time.' The auction follows a surge in Monroe memorabilia prices, amplified by Kim Kardashian wearing Monroe's iconic 1962 'Happy Birthday Mr President' dress to the 2022 Met Gala. That gown, originally sold for $4.8 million in 2016, is now owned by Ripley's Believe It or Not.
Monroe died at age 36 in August 1962 from a suspected drug overdose, ruled a probable suicide. Despite her short life, her cultural impact remains immense. The auction takes place on June 4, 27 years after a previous sale at Christie's in New York, which included an Andy Warhol portrait of Monroe that later sold for a record-breaking $195 million.
For those considering a bid, Monroe's words ring true: 'I don't care about money. I just want to be wonderful!'
