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Owner of Missing Shirley Temple Dress Offers Big Reward for Lucky Finder (EXCLUSIVE)

Amber Belus

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Shirley temple costume theft
Shirley Temple Black, as she appeared in "Poor Little Rich Girl. Temple (April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American film and television actress, singer, dancer and public servant, most famous as a child star in the 1930s. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

This is devastating. Closer Weekly can exclusively reveal that one of Shirley Temple's "most valuable, one of a kind" dresses has gone missing. Avid collector Tonya Bervaldi-Camaratta, who has her fair share of memorabilia from the late child star, revealed that five dresses vanished when she shipped them back in August via UPS from Florida to Vermont for a film convention. Four of which are now back in her possession — though one is still lost.

The missing dress is from the 1939 classic The Little Princess and this would complete a collection Tonya has been building since age 13. The other apparel stems from 1934's Bright Eyes, 1936's Stowaway, 1937's Wee Willie Winkie, and 1938's Little Miss Broadway. "It didn't have a tag in it and it's in such spectacular condition; it doesn't look old," Tonya explained. "That's why I'm offering a reward. It could be anywhere, but we're hopeful that it's found."

shirley temple closer

Shirley wearing the missing dress.

As for the other four, Tonya learned they were actually sold at a Cargo Largo based out of Missouri, but thanks to an item posted on Shirley Temple's
official Facebook page, she was able to reunite with the pieces. "[The buyer] didn't even realize what she had until she found a little movie tag in them that said Temple," she explained, adding they were purchased for less than $100. Tonya paid $15,000 for the missing dress.

Shirley was born in 1928 and passed away in 2014 of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pneumonia. She was married twice in her lifetime — first to John Agar from 1945-1950 and then remarried Charles Alden Black that same year. He passed away in 2005. Shirley was also the mother of three children, 69-year-old daughter, Lina, 63-year-old daughter, Lori, and 65-year-old son, Charles.

For more on this, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly — and for more exclusive content sign up for our newsletter!

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