Rare Marilyn Monroe photos, including an early nude, hit auction block

Revealing early photos of screen legend Marilyn Monroe are up for auction.

Most of the pictures were taken by André de Dienes beginning in 1945. The Hungarian photographer was known for his work with the bombshell actress and sex symbol. Hosted online by Nate D. Sanders, the auction ends May 28 at 5 p.m. PST.

“Andre de Dienes’ original photos of Marilyn Monroe in a large quantity are rare,” Sanders said in a statement. “They are gorgeous images of Monroe becoming an emerging star and are highly coveted by collectors.”

Bidding starts at $1,000 for the glamour shots, except for one extra special pic: an early topless photo of the “Some Like It Hot” star, signed by the one and only Hugh Hefner. Bidders will have to shell out at least $4,000 to own that work of art, by photographer Earl Moran.

Although the photo was taken in 1946, it wasn’t published in Hefner’s Playboy magazine until 1987, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Monroe’s death, according to ONGallery. Monroe graced the front cover of the inaugural Playboy issue in 1953, but Hefner never met her. In 1992, he paid $75,000 to be buried next to her crypt in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

The oldest photos up for auction are from Monroe’s first modeling job in 1945 when she was 19 years old. Back then she was known as Norma Jean Dougherty and was a redhead. Though she was born with the last name Baker, Monroe adopted the last name Dougherty from her first husband James, who she wed in 1942 at age 16 and divorced four years later.

Later shots from 1949 in the collection feature Monroe in a buxom bathing suit on the beach on Long Island. They were taken right before her breakout acting role in 1950’s “Love Happy.”

Another set of shots up for auction were taken in 1953 at the Bel Air Hotel and show Monroe in pinup shorts and a bra top. That year was an explosion for Monroe’s career. She starred in “Niagara,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “How to Marry a Millionaire.”

Monroe famously passed away at age 36 in 1962 from a reported drug overdose.

According to Artnet, Dienes’s work was featured in Vogue, Esquire and Life magazine. He also worked with Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman and Marlon Brando. He died in 1985 at age 71.