The 10 most valuable pieces of movie memorabilia sold at auction
Movie memorabilia has long been a popular collector's item, with fans eager to own a piece of their favorite films.
From costumes and props to scripts and posters, movie memorabilia has fetched millions of dollars at auction.
Here are 10 of the most valuable pieces of movie memorabilia sold at auction:
1. Marilyn Monroe's "Subway Dress" from "The Seven Year Itch"
$5.52 million In 2011, the iconic white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the famous scene from "The Seven Year Itch" sold for a record-breaking $5.52 million at auction.
2. Audrey Hepburn's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" dress
$923,187 The black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" sold for $923,187 in 2006.
3. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 from "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball"
$4.6 million The original Aston Martin DB5 used in the James Bond films "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball" sold for $4.6 million in 2010.
4. Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber from "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back"
$450,000 The lightsaber used by Mark Hamill's character Luke Skywalker in the first two "Star Wars" films sold for $450,000 in 2018.
5. Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz"
$2 million One of the four known pairs of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" sold for $2 million in 2012.
6. Steve McQueen's racing suit from "Le Mans"
$984,000 The racing suit worn by Steve McQueen in the film "Le Mans" sold for $984,000 in 2011.
7. "Rosebud" sled from "Citizen Kane"
$233,500 The sled that was the central plot point of Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" sold for $233,500 in 1996.
8. TIE Fighter model from "Star Wars: A New Hope"
$350,000 The original TIE Fighter model used in the first "Star Wars" film sold for $350,000 in 2008.
9. Cowardly Lion costume from "The Wizard of Oz"
$3.1 million One of the costumes worn by Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" sold for $3.1 million in 2014.
10. DeLorean time machine from "Back to the Future"
$541,000 The DeLorean time machine used in the "Back to the Future" films sold for $541,000 in 2011.
These 10 pieces of movie memorabilia demonstrate the enduring appeal of film and its ability to capture the imagination of fans across generations.
As long as there are movie lovers, there will be a market for these valuable and iconic pieces of cinema history.
About your Author:
Adrian Roose has over 30 years’ experience covering all aspects of the rare stamp & memorabilia industry during which he has sold over £50m of unique items, helping build collections for Royalty, household name celebrities and 1,000s of collectors around the world.
Adrian was previously a Director at Stanley Gibbons, a Board Member of Stampex, and Executive Director of Paul Fraser Collectibles, PFC Auctions and JustCollecting, prior to founding The Memorabilia Club.