Dorothy’s famous Wizard of Oz dress sells for £1 million

A dress worn by Hollywood screen siren Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” as the character Dorothy sold for $1.56 million in NY, Bonhams auction house said. A few she did not wear during filming; they are referred to as “test” dresses. The buyer was not identified.

Featuring Garland’s sweat stains around the neck, the dress had been expected to sell between $800,000 (£500,000) and $1.2 million (£750,000).

Another dress that fetched even more than the blue gingham dress that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz was the Ascot dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in My Fair Lady. “But the great pieces should bring a lot of money”, Catherine Williamson, Bonhams’ director of entertainment memorabilia said after the piece was sold.

Prices of famous memorabilia have soared in recent years.

One of Garland’s “Wizard of Oz” costumes was sold in 2012 for $480,000, according to Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

The sale came a year after the Cowardly Lion costume worn by actor Bert Lahr in the movie sold for nearly £2.05 million million at a Bonham’s auction.

Perhaps the most iconic costume item from the 1939 movie are Dorothy’s ruby slippers.

Researchers with the company believe at least ten dresses were made for the film, but most were recycled by MGM and used in other films.