While everyone fought over Dorothy's ruby slippers in "The Wizard of Oz," it turns out her blue and white gingham dress is the real object of desire. The costume, worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, is expected to fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million at auction in November.
Bonhams, a British auction house, will offer the dress in its annual auction of Hollywood memorabilia, "Treasures From The Dream Factory." There will be 300 to 350 items at the auction, in New York on November 23, including a golden ticket from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."
"What's great about this dress is you get the best of both worlds," Catherine Williamson, director of entertainment memorabilia at Bonhams, told CNBC. "There's evidence of usage with the sweat stains but also for a dress that's 75 years old, it's in fantastic shape."
It's unclear where the dress has lived in recent years as the owner chose to remain anonymous. Due to the recent popularity of memorabilia from the musical movie, it's not surprising that he or she decided to cash in now.
Last year's auction by Bonhams featured another Emerald City favorite, the costume worn by the Cowardly Lion. It sold for $2.6 million, topping its $2 million estimate. Belonging to the widely popular film's most beloved character, Dorothy's dress may very well do the same.
Auctions featuring Hollywood props are increasingly common, offer fans the opportunity to own a piece of their favorite shows and movies. Just last week, an auction opened featuring over a thousand props from the television series "Mad Men."
h/t Luxury Launches
