'Wizard of Oz' dress sets record at auction

Anonymous bidder pays four times expected sum for a costume worn by Judy Garland.

Apr 28 2005

A dress worn by Judy Garland in film classic 'The Wizard of Oz' has been sold for £140,000 at auction.

The famous blue-and-white gingham garment was expected to fetch £35,000, but an anonymous phone bidder paid four times that sum to own a little piece of movie history.

In doing so he also set the world record for a costume sold at auction.

'This dress represents the quintessential magic of childhood in the most beloved film of the 20th century,' said Jon Baddeley, head of the collectors' department at Bonhams auctioneers.

'It has become a cherished memory for millions of fans worldwide and was worn by one of the most talented and respected stars in Hollywood.'

Custom-made for Judy Garland, whose name is sewn into the hem, six such costumes were produced for the film, although the item in question was one of only two that had secret pockets.

The dress was sold by a British collector, who bought it for £10,500 at auction in New York in 1989.

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