Ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at auction

Ruby slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in classic film The Wizard of Oz will be sold at auction next month, almost 20 years after they were stolen.

Heritage Auctions showcased the magical footwear in London before they go under the hammer in Dallas on December 7, with predictions they could sell for up to $3 million.

“They are legendary like no other,” Nikki Hale, head of special projects at Heritage, told AFP of the signature sequined court shoes topped with bows.

“The Wizard of Oz truly stands the test of time as a classic, iconic cult film that people all over the world know what The Wizard of Oz is.”

“You see them when she clicks her heels to go home. You see them when she starts her adventure when she goes down into Munchkinland,” Hale added. “They are absolutely the holy grail of movie memorabilia.”

Only four pairs made for the 1939 film still survive, and those for sale have belonged to a collector since 1970.

They were kept at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota until they mysteriously disappeared in 2005.

Despite a six-figure reward and the involvement of the FBI, it wasn’t until 2018 that they were finally tracked down.

“They were found, apparently buried in a Tupperware (box), underground,” Hale said.

The perpetrator of the theft, Terry Martin, admitted taking them, saying he did so because he thought they were encrusted with real rubies.

Now 76, he received a suspended prison sentence in January this year.

Other memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz will also be for sale, including Garland’s wigs, movie posters and photographs, as well as other items such as a wooden record player from Jumanji with Robin Williams.