She was famous for her unlimited shoe collection. But Imelda Marcos, wife of the former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and herself a leading politician in the Asian country for years, was also a jewel collector. Now part of the collection of jewels seized from Imelda Marcos, including diamond-studded bracelets and hair combs, will be shown to the public for the first time in Manila in July. In case you’re around… The diamond-studded comb, for example, is valued at $44,000. Imelda Marcos fled the Philippines for Hawaii in 1986, after her husband Ferdinand was ousted from power in a peaceful revolution. On that occasion, US customs seized millions of dollars in jewels. Which can now be sold at auction “for the Filipino people.” She, obviously, does not agree and would like her necklaces, earrings and so on. Imelda, who ran unsuccessfully for the presidency of the Philippines in the early 1990s, is now 83 years old and a member of the Philippine Parliament. The Manila government holds about 760 pieces of Ms. Marcos’ jewelry worth a total of $6 million.
