Rare, Naked Marilyn Monroe Pictures Hit Auction

Photos of a fully nude Marilyn Monroe are expected to hit the auction block Oct. 11, according to reports. Heritage Auctions' New York auction lot owns the coveted images. The auction house claims the images could reel in between $25,000-35,000, TMZ reported Thursday.

The 12 pictures mostly showcase Monroe swimming nude in a pool, but there are also images of the actress posing with a birthday cake filled with sparklers. Monroe's images will be auctioned alongside rare photos of Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali.

The "Some Like It Hot" actress' pictures are expected to go for much more, but the entire sale is slated to generate a reported over $120,000.

"There has been a good deal of excitement around the auction since it has an unusual selection of photographs of celebrities and we expect a good sale," Nigel Russell, Heritage Auction's director of photographs, told International Business Times Thursday. "I had known about the existence of these photographs and I was able to make contact with the photographer and persuade him to consign a set."

The photographs are viewable until Oct. 10 at Heritage Auction's New York office at 445 Park Ave. All images will be available to bid on Oct. 11 through Heritage Auctions' Photographs Auction in New York City. The auction will start at 11:00 am EDT at the Lotte New York Palace.

The images of Monroe were taken in 1962, the year she died, by then 25-year-old photographer Lawrence Schiller. The pictures were later published in a Vanity Fair feature, titled "A Splash of Marilyn." Schiller also published the rare photos in his eleventh book, "Me & Marilyn." The book, which retails at $ 1,000, includes the photographer's original text and images.

"You're already famous, now you’re going to make me famous," Schiller reportedly told Monroe ahead of the photoshoot.

"Don't be so cocky," Monroe said in response. "Photographers can be easily replaced."

Schiller's "proactively entertaining offers" on his Monroe images. His images have also appeared in "Life," "Playboy" and "Glamour," among many other known publications. ​