Marilyn Monroe Photographs From "The Last Sitting" Bring $80,000 At Heritage Auctions

March 30, 2015

A private collection of rare photographs of starlet Marilyn Monroe, taken by Bert Stern during his “Last Sitting” session in 1962, just weeks before her death, exceeded all expectations to bring a combined $80,000 at Heritage Auctions. The March 15 auction realized $137,519 and included a range of images such as wide-eyed shots of Norma Jeane in 1945 as part of an inaugural online photography auction devoted exclusively to Monroe on www.HA.com.
"This was the first Marilyn online only auction we have held, and the strong results, especially for the Bert Stern images, are a testament to the iconic Marilyn Monroe," said Rachel Peart, director for photographs at Heritage. The auction's lots touched on Monroe's final photo shoots, including a portfolio of color and black and white photos from sessions on the beach in Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.
The auction's top lot was the “Marilyn Teasing,” from “The Last Sitting,” 1962, which sold for $12,500, five times its pre-auction estimate. Stern's “Marilyn Monroe, Sleeping,” 1962, sold for $10,625 and the disarming “Marilyn Monroe, Sequined Gloves,” 1962, saw interest from five bidders who pushed the selling price to $10,000.
Carefree snaps of the often troubled model and actress surpassed expectations as “Marilyn Monroe, Here's to You,” (from the Last Sitting), 1962, sold for $10,000, against a $2,500 estimate, and “Marilyn Monroe, Rhythm” (from The Last Sitting for Vogue), 1962, sold for $9,375 against a $3,000 estimate.
Works by additional artists featured in the auction included “Marilyn Monroe, Beach,” 1962, by George Barris, which sold for $6,875, and “Green Towel, The Last Shoot,” 1962, which sold for $5,500.
For further information, visit www.HA.com.

 

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