Marilyn Monroe's life and loves have been scrutinised as closely as any star's, living or dead, over the past 50 years.
But it seems some collectors wanted to look closer still, and at Julien's auction last night in Las Vegas as three lots of X-ray photographs of the Some Like it Hot star smashed their estimates (as we predicted they would).
The most coveted lot of the three was naturally that of Monroe's chest. Whilst hardly presented at its most alluring, the image brought 20 times its estimate of $1,200, achieving $25,000 alone. Collectors may be interested to know that her bra is still on the market.
Bidders made no bones about wanting the other X-ray lots either and each brought $10,000. The X-rays were taken at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Florida, where Monroe had surgery for endometriosis, in November 1954
 Now that's a see-through top... Marilyn Monroe's chest x-ray |
The biggest selling single lot relating to the iconic actress was actually a chair used during her final photo session. This classic piece of her memorabilia brought $35,000, whilst a couch she lay on for her sessions with a psychiatrist, Dr Greenman, left the stage for a bargain $2,625.
Another piece of Marilyn memorabilia which also relates to her troubled mind is currently on offer for $7,425: a cheque signed by her for her psychiatrist.
In the same auction, someone picked up a set of earrings used by Kate Winslet in Titanic for a comparatively modest $25,000. They may well be a good investment. Likewise an original copy of the script for Gone with the Wind brought $9,062.50.
The biggest sale of the night, however, was not from Winslet or even from Marilyn but from another icon: Audrey Hepburn.
The Belgian star of Breakfast at Tiffany's was represented by her dress worn as Jo Stockton in the Oscar-nominated Funny Face, and excited bidders jostled for the chance to add it to their collections. It was eventually taken home for an impressive $56,250.00.
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