The power of ‘Happy Birthday Mr President‘ still holds strong, as this photo of Marilyn on the evening of the historic 1962 gala fetched $12,800, making it the top selling item among 135 lots in today’s online event at Julien’s Auctions, Merry, Merry Marilyn.
From the collection of celebrity makeup artist and dollmaker Kim Goodwin, the 1970s print measures 10 x 8 inches, and Marilyn’s full name is typed on the footer.
Coming in second, a never-published print by Allan Grant, shot in Marilyn’s Los Angeles home, sold for $8,960. We’ll be hearing a lot more about Grant this year, as Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview is set for release in May 2026 – one of several new books slated for her centennial.
And finally, the other items in today’s top ten at Julien’s Auctions…
- A 1971 poster for an Andy Warhol exhibit at London’s Tate Gallery – $7,680
- A 1960s transparency showing Marilyn with Joe DiMaggio at the Seven Year Itch premiere in 1955 – $6,400
- A handwritten cheque penned by Marilyn in 1952 – $5,760
- A framed 1990s poster featuring a colourised 1953 photo by Bert Reisfeld – $5,120
- A 1959 file script for The Billionaire, later retitled as Let’s Make Love – $4,480
- A 1956 issue of TIME magazine, with Marilyn gracing the cover – $4,480
- A 2013 poster for the Sexy Hair brand, featuring a 1955 photo of Marilyn by Milton Greene – $3,840
- A 1956 letter to Joseph Carr of Marilyn Monroe Productions, penned by Paula Strasberg – $3,520
And you can read all my Merry, Merry Marilyn posts – with updated totals – right here.
The Marilyn Report 