The purple dress and fitted overcoat the actress wore as Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 movie classic was expected to go under the hammer for $60,000 (£37,500) at the Heritage Auctions sale on Saturday (18Apr15).

However, an anonymous buyer paid an impressive $137,000 for the outfit, which the owner, former Universal Studios hair and make-up artist Jim Tumblin, bought in the 1960s for just $20 (£13) after spotting it at a costume company.

Tumblin's 150-lot collection also included a grey suit worn by Clark Gable, co-star Leslie Howard's Confederate uniform and a script which belonged to Hattie MCDaniel, who won an Oscar for her role as Mammy.