Iconic Ruby Slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' to Spark Bidding Frenzy at Auction

The famed ruby slippers from the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz," once stolen, are now up for auction with a price tag of potentially $3 million. Their unique history includes a notable museum heist and an FBI recovery operation.

An iconic piece of Hollywood history is set to hit the auction block this Saturday as a pair of ruby red slippers, famously worn by actress Judy Garland in the beloved film "The Wizard of Oz," awaits eager bidders. These sequined pumps, hailed as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia" by Heritage Auctions, are projected to fetch a staggering price of up to $3 million (£2.35 million). Online bidding commenced a month prior, with early reports indicating the highest bid reached $1.55 million by noon on auction day.

Garland, who portrayed the character of Dorothy at just 16 years old in the 1939 musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," solidified the film's status in cinematic history, with Variety ranking it second on their "100 Greatest Movies of All Time" list. In a notable deviation from the original text, the filmmakers transformed the slippers from silver to dazzling red to showcase the innovative Technicolor technology available at the time.

A defining moment in the film sees Dorothy clicking her heels three times while reciting, "There's no place like home," allowing her to return to Kansas and her Auntie Em. Though several pairs of the shoes were used throughout production, only four are believed to have survived, with one pair displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

The pair currently up for auction carries a remarkable story. They were loaned to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where they were stolen in 2005 by professional thief Terry Jon Martin. Under the impression that the slippers were adorned with real jewels due to their insured value of $1 million, Martin smashed the glass display to seize them. Upon trying to sell the slippers to a dealer, he learned their value stemmed from their cultural significance rather than precious gems.

The slippers remained missing for 13 years until they were recovered by the FBI during a sting operation in 2018. The mysterious period of their disappearance remains largely unknown. In 2023, Martin—now in his 70s and using a wheelchair—pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to time served.

Curator John Kelsch of the Judy Garland Museum expressed a desire for further understanding of the slippers' enigmatic journey after their theft, highlighting the absurdity of their value being misinterpreted as jewels rather than an irreplaceable piece of American treasure.