Ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are for sale — nearly 2 decades after they were stolen

DALLAS — A brace of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland successful “The Wizard of Oz” is connected nan auction artifact astir 2 decades aft a thief stole nan iconic shoes, convinced they were adorned pinch existent jewels.

Online bidding has started and will proceed done Dec. 7, Heritage Auctions successful Dallas announced successful a news merchandise Monday.

A brace of ruby slippers erstwhile worn by character Judy Garland successful nan “The Wizard of Oz” beryllium connected show astatine a news convention connected Sept. 4, 2018, astatine nan FBI agency successful Brooklyn Center, Minn. AP

The auction institution received nan sequin-and-bead-bedazzled slippers from Michael Shaw, nan memorabilia collector who primitively owned nan footwear astatine nan bosom of nan beloved 1939 musical. Shaw had loaned nan shoes successful 2005 to nan Judy Garland Museum successful Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

That summer, personification smashed done a show lawsuit and stole nan slippers. Their whereabouts remained a enigma until the FBI recovered them successful 2018.

Now nan depository is among those vying for nan slippers, which were 1 of respective pairs Garland wore during nan filming. Only 4 remain.

Grand Rapids raised money for nan slippers astatine its yearly Judy Garland festival. The costs will supplement nan $100,000 group speech this twelvemonth by Minnesota lawmakers to acquisition nan slippers.

The man who stole nan slippers, Terry Jon Martin, was 76 erstwhile he was sentenced successful January to clip served because of his mediocre health. He admitting to utilizing a hammer to smash nan solid of nan museum’s doorway and show lawsuit successful what his lawyer said was an effort to propulsion disconnected “one past score” aft an aged subordinate pinch connections to nan mob told him nan shoes had to beryllium adorned pinch existent jewels to warrant their $1 cardinal insured value.

The auction of movie memorabilia includes different items from “The Wizard of Oz,” specified arsenic a chapeau worn by Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of nan West and nan surface doorway from Dorothy’s Kansas home.