The ruby slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" have sold for a record $32.5 million.
The glittering slippers surpassed their pre-sale estimate of $3 million and by the end of the bidding became the most expensive movie memorabilia ever sold at auction, Heritage Auctions, which oversaw the dramatic sale in Dallas, Texas, said.
The final bid was $28 million, with taxes and fees pushing the price to $32.5 million.
The total amount at the Hollywood/Entertainment Signature Auction, which also sold the Wicked Witch's black hat for $2.9 million, set a new record of $38.6 million. dollars at an entertainment industry auction.
But as expected, the sequined shoes, one of only four surviving pairs of rubies worn in the 1939 cult classic, were stolen from the Texas show.
"Judy Garland's ruby slippers are simply unmatched by any other Hollywood relic," Heritage Auctions executive vice president Joe Maddalena said in a statement.
"This breathtaking result reflects how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors," she added. | BGNES, AFP
