Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, Stolen in 2005 and Returned to Owner, Begin World Tour before December Auction

The famous slippers stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan were recovered by federal investigators and returned to their owner, Michael Shaw. Heritage will auction them in December following a multi-city world tour.

Courtesy: Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions

“This is a day that is years in the making, a real-life Hollywood ending,” says Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena. “It took an ensemble cast of law enforcement professionals giving the performance of a lifetime — and their coordination, cooperation and commitment restored the ruby slippers to their rightful owner. As we all look forward to the next chapter in their storied history, to their journey across the auction block, we are reminded of what these legendary objects are and what they represent: an iconic piece of our collective history, an enduring symbol of the magic of storytelling and an ever-shimmering reminder that dreams are best in Technicolor.”