Marilyn Monroe memorabilia fans have a rare opportunity as Julien’s Auctions teams up with TCM for Icons and Idols Hollywood, a two day event in Beverly Hills, December 17 and 18. In total, 175 legendary pieces will be offered to collectors and enthusiasts across the country, celebrating a pop culture icon whose influence spans decades.
The sale features a handwritten letter connected to Monroe, involving Charles Stanley Gifford, who DNA analysis has identified as Monroe’s biological father. This item stands out as a personal artifact that hints at intimate family ties during Monroe’s life and career.
According to the auction house, this card represents the only known material link between Gifford and the star, a detail that could shed new light on the private side of Monroe. The note’s journey appears to begin when Gifford reportedly delivered it to his daughter while she was hospitalized, a moment now preserved in this historic sale. An art and memorabilia historian connected with the collection notes that the card was found while preparing Marilyn’s personal files for auction.
Experts suggest that the document could reveal whether Monroe had knowledge of or contact with her biological father, a question that has intrigued fans and scholars for years. The handwritten card includes a misspelled greeting and a message that reads, in part, a desire to comfort and provide encouragement across the years. The signer identifies himself as Stanley Gifford from Red Rock Dairy Farm in Hemet, California, adding a personal, almost intimate tone to the message.
Among the more remarkable items bound for the sale are a selection of beauty products, including lipstick cases, false eyelashes, and makeup shadows. In addition, several dresses linked to the era of Monroe’s famous persona as a radiant star will be offered, with estimates suggesting some of these pieces may command substantial interest from collectors and fashion historians alike, potentially reaching tens of thousands of dollars, and in notable cases approaching higher estimates.
The auction catalog also includes letters, photographs, and personal financial items as well as medical records that touch on Monroe’s aesthetics and public image. Organizers emphasize that this collection presents a deeper glimpse into the person behind the public figure, offering new insight into the choices she made and the experiences that shaped her short life. A senior executive involved with the event notes that Julien’s has curated a group of items intended to illuminate Monroe’s personal world as well as her professional achievements, making the sale a significant moment for fans and researchers alike.