Online bidding on Marilyn Monroe's former grave marker stands at $3,250.
The item is auctioning at Julien's Auctions Hollywood Legends sale in Beverly Hills, and ends on June 26.
 Visitors to Monroe's grave caused wear on the original grave marker |
The marker stood at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles until the 1970s, when it was replaced with a new one after constant touching by visitors had caused excessive wear.
It comes from the collection of a former employee of Gasser-Olds, the bronze-casting firm who made the marker.
The auction house has given the 4 1/2 by 15 inch marker a $4,000-high estimate. With two weeks' of bidding left, this estimate now appears conservative - a reminder of the continued pulling power of Monroe at auction.
Also on offer is an order of service from Monroe's funeral at the Westwood Village Mortuary in Los Angeles.
The cover features a picture of the Bok Singing Tower in Florida, while the inside reads "In Memory of/ Marilyn Monroe/ Born June 1st, 1926/ Passed Away/ August 5th, 1962".
It has excellent provenance, coming from the estate of Monroe's personal make-up artist, Allan "Whitey" Snyder.
Bids are at $450, with an estimate of $800. An identical card auctioned for $1,464 in 2010.
Rounding out the selection of morbid Monroe items is a dress she wore in her last film, Something's Got to Give.
The dress from the unfinished 1962 movie has a $600,000 valuation.
View our selection of rare Monroe collectibles here.
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