LOS ANGELES, CA.- Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), concluded its headline making event “100 Years of Marilyn” the ultimate destination for Hollywood memorabilia auctions’ centennial celebration of the life and career of one of the twentieth century’s defining cultural icons, Marilyn Monroe, in a fantastic sale that sold over 100 of the star’s marquee items and surpassed their pre-sale estimates (pictured above: Managing Director/auctioneer Erica Ollwerther of Julien’s Auctions at “100 Years of Marilyn” auction at The Peninsula Beverly Hills)

📸 Celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s centenary with Marilyn Monroe 100: The Official Centenary Book, available on Amazon—a glamorous photography-based tribute created in association with the Marilyn Monroe Estate.

An extraordinary collection of Marilyn Monroe’s most treasured objects and intimate possessions featuring scripts with her handwritten notes, production pieces, memorabilia and film-related items from her most iconic films, designer wardrobe, rare never before seen and unpublished historic photographs, as well as personal handwritten notes, correspondence, makeup products, accessories, and more attracted hundreds of collectors and fans at the live auction held Thursday, June 4th, 2026 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills and online at juliensauctions.com

Leading the auction were two pieces seen in photographer George Barris’ photographs of Marilyn taken in 1962: a classic mid-century yellow modern L-shaped sofa (sold for $256,000 10 x estimate of $25,000) and a 1962 batik artwork depicting ostriches and hunters in earth tones also sold for an astonishing $256,000 (32 x estimate of $8,000). Marilyn posed on this yellow sofa for a series of photographs where this batik artwork can be seen on the wall behind her taken at friend’s (Tim Leimert] house in the Hollywood Hills. This wall hanging was consigned directly by Leimert's family.

A wide array of historic documents featuring Marilyn’s own handwriting stunned at the auction block notably a single lined page removed from a datebook featuring the star’s handwritten notes on acting in 1951 that hammered at $140,800 (70 x estimate of $2,000). Though Marilyn had at least eight films under her belt by September 1951, including the classics The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve, she was continually studying the art of acting, as her writing here indicated, “I can never say it with my voice / if I don't say it with my body / always go back to moans / and groans - hums, grunts / all those animal sounds / which the only way we / can do it is naturally."

Archival material that charted her early and remarkable rise to fame to her final years in Hollywood were some of the top highlights such as (with winning bids):

• Marilyn’s 1946 signed historic first contract with 20th Century Fox ($76,800)

• 1962 annotated script from her final film Something's Got To Give ($32,000)

• A circa 1960 forlorn handwritten note to Paula Strasberg ($35,200)

• 1956 SAG Membership Card sold for an astounding $25,600 (85 x estimate of $300)

• Thanksgiving stuffing recipe ($16,000) and more.

Instantly emblematic pieces of Marilyn’s iconic style and glamour turned heads such as pieces from Marilyn’s personal wardrobe including her pink, gray, and black jewel patterned Pucci top ($76,800) and her 1950s Jeanne Lanvin / Paris elegant ivory silk evening gown embellished with gold-tone sequins rhinestones and faux pearls ($32,000), as well as Marilyn’s makeup products and routine that is still talked about today including:

• her orange shade Max Factor lipstick “Lip Pomade 7-22” that Marilyn used during the production of her last and unfinished film 1962’s Something's Got To Give ($16,000);

• 1950s Elizabeth Arden “Pink Spark” lipstick ($12,800)

• 1952 Rouge by House of Westmore ($16,000)

• 1950s hand weights ($19,200) and others.

Never-before-seen photographs of Marilyn Monroe, as well as rare and hard-to-find images hidden for decades were rediscovered on the auction block such as: a rare black and white photograph of Marilyn on the set of her 1955 comedy, The Seven Year Itch as her make-up and hairdressing team attend to her that sold for a stunning $19,200 64 x estimate of $300; a 1955 signed black and white snapshot of Marilyn on her way to Jackie Gleason's birthday party in NYC from the collection of Frieda Hull, a “Monroe Six” fan member ($16,000); as well as three 1954 signed black and white photographs of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon in Japan (range each sold $19,200-$22,400); and more.

Highlights included:

• Marilyn’s abstract sketch of a nude female gifted to Lee Strasberg who had the original artwork displayed in his NYC apartment for decades ($32,000)

• 1954-1956 huge collection of fan mail written to Marilyn ($19,200)

• 1957 Arthur Miller specially-bound book Arthur Miller's Collected Plays ($19,200)

“One hundred years after her birth, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most iconic and enduring stars in Hollywood history. Her extraordinary life, timeless beauty, and cultural influence continue to captivate audiences around the world and will inspire generations to come," said Martin Nolan, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Julien’s Auctions. "We were honored to partner with TCM to celebrate Marilyn’s remarkable legacy through this historic sale, which brought together fans and collectors and museums and investors from across the globe. The event was a great success and a fitting tribute to a century of fascination, admiration, and affection for one of the most beloved figures in entertainment history.”

“100 Years of Marilyn” capped off a week of worldwide celebrations of the star’s milestone birthday that featured TCM honoring Marilyn as the “Star of the Month” and airing her biggest films throughout the month of June, Julien's and TCM's exhibition preview of the auction and VIP screening of her film Niagara at the Egyptian theater, and more.


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