The last ever professional photos of Marilyn Monroe taken just weeks before her untimely death have emerged for sale for a staggering $ 36,000 . The six poignant pictures of the screen siren were taken by close friend George Barris on July 13 , 1962 , destined for a book about Monroe . Just three weeks later Monroe was found dead - making Barris 's pictures of the world 's biggest star hugely valuable . Yet New York native Barris was devastated by the loss of his friend , and scrapped plans for the book . He also refused to allow the images , the last professional shots ever to be taken of Monroe , to be published for several years afterwards . The last kiss : This appears to be the final picture taken by a professional photographer of Marilyn Monroe , shot by close friend George Barris on a beach in Santa Monica on July 13 , 1962 . Collectibles : This collection of six pictures by Barris are going up for auction next week . Comfortable : The two had become good friends - which shows clearly in the relaxed shots taken by Barris . The set of six original prints have now come up for sale , and experts are predicting they could fetch as much as $ 6,000 each - around £4,000 . The intimate shots appear to show just how comfortable Monroe was with her friend of seven years . Barris had first met Monroe on the set of her film The Seven Year Itch in 1954 . 'When I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful , fantastic person I 'd ever met , ' Barris told the Los Angeles Daily News in 2012 , ahead of an exhibition to mark what would have been the film star 's 86th birthday . 'She completely knocked me off my feet . ' The two remained firm friend . Barris told the Huffington Post : 'What I particularly liked about Marilyn was that she did n't act like a movie star . ' I was most impressed that Marilyn was always polite and friendly to everyone on the set . She was no phony or snob . ' Barris revealed to the Daily News that the final shot he ever took of Monroe was on the beach , wrapped in a blanket . 'She puckered up and said , ` This is just for you , George , ' and blew a kiss to me . That 's the last picture I took of her , ' he said . A print of that picture among the six on sale , along with a two more from the beach in Santa Monica , while two are taken inside a house in Hollywood . Compilation : Barris had planned to include the pictures in a book about Monroe he was putting together . Grief : But Barris scrapped plans for the book , and refused to publish the pictures for years after her death . Devastated : After her death , Barris moved to Paris , where he lived for the next 20 years . Memories : Barris finally published the book , which he started working on in 1962 , in 2012 . Also on sale are six signed shots from the iconic photoshoot of Monroe taken by fellow photographer Bert Stern in late June 1962 for Vogue magazine . Stern 's images would become known as 'The Last Sitting ' - despite Barris 's pictures being taken later on . The black and white Stern shots , which include one of a sultry Monroe naked on a bed , are also expected to make anything between $ 3,500 and $ 8,000 each ( about £2,300 to £5,200 ) . Both collections are being sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas , Texas , on behalf of two private collectors . Iconic : Six pictures for Bert Stern 's Last Sitting collection for Vogue are also on sale at auction . Stunning : This particular print - signed by photographer Stern - is expected to fetch $ 8,000 . Ironic : Stern 's pictures became known as The Last Sitting , despite Monroe posing for Barris later . Rachel Peart , director of photographs at Heritage New York , said : 'Bert Stern did a shoot with Marilyn Monroe for Vogue magazine in June 1962 which everyone refers to as 'The Last Sitting ' - her last ever studio photos . 'The images he took became very iconic . Marilyn was the biggest star in the world at the time and Stern 's photos were very glamorous . 'What is less well known is that another photographer , George Barris , took a series of intimate pictures of Marilyn a few weeks after Bert Stern 's shoot - so those are technically the last ever studio shots of her . ' Glamorous : This photograph - titled Feeling Good - is expected to make as much as $ 3,500 . Legendary : The Stern shots form an important part of the Monroe tale and are likely to be highly sought after . Sale : The auction of prints like this one , signed by Stern , takes place between March 10 and March 15 . Pearl added : 'All the pictures we are selling are authentic , genuine prints made by and signed by the photographers , many within five years of the originals being taken . 'Marilyn Monroe transcends generations and appeals to a wide range of collectors . She is timeless and market for Marilyn memorabilia is very strong . 'Because Marilyn was so iconic a lot of people took photos of her , however these photos are among the best and most rare out there . ' The online auction will be spread over six days , from March 10 and March 15 .
Taken by friend and celebrity photographer George Barris in July 1962 . Monroe was found dead at her Hollywood home just three weeks later . Devastated Barris refused to publish pictures for years afterwards . The six prints , signed by Barris , are expected to fetch around $ 6,000 each . Collection of iconic prints known as The Last Sitting also on sale next week .