Ruby Slippers of Oz Set for Historic Auction Breakthrough

The iconic footwear, once stolen and now recovered, has captivated collectors and fans alike, with experts predicting a final price as high as $3 million at Heritage Auctions.

A pair of ruby red slippers worn by actress Judy Garland during her iconic role in "The Wizard of Oz" is making headlines as they prepare for auction this Saturday. These sequined shoes, which have become a symbol of film history, were previously stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota, sparking a decade-long mystery surrounding their whereabouts. With online bidding underway for a month, the current highest bid stands at $1.55 million, and experts from Heritage Auctions anticipate that the final sale could reach as much as $3 million (£2.35 million).

Judy Garland, who was only 16 years old when she portrayed the beloved character Dorothy in the 1939 film, has seen this adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children's book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," rank highly among cinematic masterpieces. In a deliberate artistic choice, the original silver slippers from the book were transformed into red to showcase the vibrant Technicolor technology available at the time.

The slippers play a crucial role in the storyline, as Dorothy clicks her heels three times while exclaiming, "There's no place like home," allowing her to escape the fantastical realm of Oz and return to her life in Kansas. Of the several pairs used during filming, it is believed that only four pairs have survived, with one currently exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

The pair up for auction has garnered interest not only for its historical significance but also because of its unique and tumultuous journey. In 2005, collector Michael Shaw loaned the shoes to the Judy Garland Museum, but a brazen theft by professional burglar Terry Jon Martin resulted in the shoes being smashed out of their display case. Under the mistaken belief that they were encrusted with real rubies, Martin attempted to fence the slippers, only to later discover that they were simply glass.

The slippers remained lost until a high-profile FBI sting operation recovered them in 2018, adding another layer to their storied history. In 2023, Martin, now in his 70s, pled guilty to theft, receiving a sentence of time served. Despite the pair's recovery, museum curator John Kelsch expressed a desire to learn more about their mysterious 13-year journey. “The value is not ruby; the value is an American treasure, a national treasure,” he stated, emphasizing the cultural importance behind the infamous footwear.

With anticipation growing around the auction, the ruby slippers continue to embody the magic of cinema and the extraordinary story of their survival.