A classic pair of ruby red slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz has been sold for $28 million (£22 million) at auction, making them the most valuable cinema memorabilia ever sold.
The slippers are one of only four surviving pairs from the 1939 classic, sold at a Heritage Auctions event in Dallas, far exceeding their anticipated price tag of $3 million (£2.35 million). They were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota and recovered by the FBI in 2018 after a sting operation.
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The sale comes hot on the heels of the renewed interest in The Wizard of Oz with the release of the prequel Wicked. Garland was 16 years old when she played Dorothy and is now widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. The red slippers originally silver slippers as per the book, later changed to show Technicolor become a symbol of Dorothy’s journey and also part of her iconic words, “There’s no place like home.” Today, they are considered one of the most priceless parts of American cinematic heritage.