A Selection of Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia up for Grabs in December

More than 175 items from Marilyn Monroe’s life and career will be offered this December by Julien’s Auctions in collaboration with Turner Classic Movies.

The sale comes on the heels of the release of the controversial film Blonde, based on the 2000 novel of the same name that focuses heavily on Monroe’s rise to fame and her relationships with men, both real and fictional.

Highlighting the sale is an artifact that’s believed to be the only connection or communication between the world-famous actress and one of the men in her life, her biological father Stanley C. Gifford.

Monroe was put into foster care in June 1926 when she was just two weeks old. Her mother tried to gain back full custody, but struggled with symptoms of mental disorder, according to her biography. Gifford, who worked in the film industry, did not want Monroe to be part of his life even though she tried to contact and visit him many times, according to My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe by Berniece Baker Miracle, Monroe’s half-sister, and Mona Rae Miracle, daughter of Berniece.

The card reads: “This cheery little get-well note comes specially to say that lots of thoughts and wishes, too, are with you every day,” with the words “a little prayer too,” and signed “Stanley Gifford, Red Rock Dairy Farm, Hemet, Calif.”

The card was discovered by Marilyn Monroe historian and collector Scott Fortner as part of researching and documenting Monroe’s personal archives. It was undated and without an envelope, and believed to be hand delivered to Monroe when Gifford visited her during one of her many hospitalizations in Los Angeles, according to Julien’s.

It has an estimated value between US$2,000 and US$3,000.

Additional highlights include wardrobe pieces worn by Monroe for her photograph shoots and movies. A Mae West-inspired black “cellophane effect” evening gown, worn by Monroe during the 1955 filming of The Seven Year Itch, is expected to fetch between US$20,000 and US$40,000. A black velvet opera coat in which she was often photographed while living in New York from 1954-55 has a presale estimate between US$20,000 and US$30,000.

One of the most valuable items is a personalized brown leather Gucci address book custom stamped “M.M.” on the front cover, circa 1955, expected to sell for between US$50,000 and US$70,000. The address book contains contacts including Marlon Brando, “Mother Miller,” Lee Strasberg, Maurine [sic.] Stapleton, and Harold Clurman, along with handwritten entries and notes.

“Despite the numerous books, movies, and stories there are about the life of Marilyn Monroe, she has always been a largely enigmatic and alluring star,” Pola Changnon, general manager of Turner Classic Movies, said in a statement. “This auction brings us closer to the real person she was.”

The sale will take place from Dec. 17-18 live at Julien’s Beverly Hills galleries and via its online platform.

Klaus Busse would like you to close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel of a Maserati. Picture the GranTurismo, which launched in Australia in 2024. Where do you see yourself? Chances are, Busse suggests, it’s not during the school pick-up or commuting to the office.

“You’re probably on a wonderful road in Tuscany, or Highway 1, or you’re going to a red carpet event,” says Busse, who holds the enviable title of Head of Design at Maserati, the iconic Italian car manufacturer. “Basically, it’s about emotion.”

At the luxury end of the market, the GranTurismo Coupe—priced between $375,000 and $450,000—is designed to transform the driving experience into something extraordinary. For Busse and his team, these “sculptures on wheels” are not just status symbols or exhilarating machines but expressions of pure joy. Their mission is to encapsulate that feeling and translate it into their cars.

“I really feel the responsibility to create emotion,” he says. “We have a wonderful word in Italy: allegria, which is best translated as ‘joyful.’ Our job as a brand is to lift you into this area of joy, perfectly positioned just short of ecstasy. It’s that tingling sensation you feel in your body when you drive the car.”

Even as 60 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, Maserati’s design ethos captures the essence of “everyday exceptional.” Whether navigating city streets or open roads, a Maserati turns heads without being ostentatious or aggressive. “I’ve driven these cars all over the world, and no matter where I go, people smile at me and give a thumbs-up,” says Busse.

Since joining Maserati in 2015, Busse has reimagined and redefined the brand, steering his team through the reinvention of classic models and the transition to electric vehicles. Iconic designs like the Fiat 500, which entered the EV market in 2020, serve as a testament to Maserati’s ability to blend tradition with innovation.

Unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati embraces radical change with new designs every 10 to 15 years. Busse loves connecting with fans who follow the brand closely. He explains that each Maserati model reflects a specific era, from the elegant 35GT of the 1950s to the wedge-shaped designs of the 1970s and the bold aesthetics of the 1980s.

“I often ask fans, ‘What is Maserati for you?’ because their responses tell me so much about how they connect with the brand,” he shares.

Inspired by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, Busse balances tradition with modernity in his designs. As Giugiaro once told him, “We always do the best in the moment.” This philosophy resonates deeply with Busse, who believes in honouring the past while embracing future possibilities.

Through advances in technology, techniques, and societal trends, Busse ensures Maserati remains at the forefront of automotive design. For him, the creative process is more than just a job—it’s a way to create joy, connection, and timeless elegance.

A Selection of Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia up for Grabs in December

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