Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, via The Canadian Press)
A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz is up for auction nearly 20 years after being stolen by a thief who believed the shoes were embellished with real gems. The slippers are now being offered for sale through Heritage Auctions in Dallas, with online bidding open until December 7, the company announced on Monday.
The slippers were returned to the public spotlight by Michael Shaw, a memorabilia collector who had originally owned them. Shaw had loaned the slippers to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005. That summer, the iconic shoes were stolen when a thief broke into the museum and smashed the display case. For years, the whereabouts of the slippers were unknown until they were recovered by the FBI in 2018.
The slippers are now back in the hands of the museum, which is among those interested in acquiring them. These slippers are one of several pairs that Garland wore during the filming of the 1939 musical, and only four pairs are still in existence.
To help fund the purchase, the city of Grand Rapids has raised money through its annual Judy Garland Festival. Additionally, Minnesota lawmakers set aside $100,000 this year for the purchase of the famous shoes.
The man responsible for the theft, Terry Jon Martin, was sentenced to time served in January after pleading guilty. The 76-year-old admitted to breaking into the museum, claiming he believed the slippers were worth $1 million due to the belief that they were decorated with real jewels. His attorney explained that Martin was acting on a tip from a former acquaintance who had mob connections, leading him to believe the shoes had a much higher value than they actually did.
Along with the slippers, the auction will feature other items from The Wizard of Oz, including the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat worn by Margaret Hamilton and the screen door from Dorothy’s Kansas home.
