Rare and beautiful photos have been found of Marilyn Monroe.

The photos were taken just weeks before she passed away, and they will now be put up for auction in London, People reported.

Professional photographer George Barris, who was a friend of Monroe's, is the one who took the photos on July 13, 1962 at Santa Monica Beach and in her Brentwood, California, home. Just three weeks later, at only 36 years old, she was found dead in this same home.

Barris was working on a book about Monroe, which is why he was taking these photos, Metro UK reported. For years after her death he refused to let these images be released to the public until 1987 when they were eventually published in limited edition prints.

In the photos, you can see Monroe posing in the sand with either a bikini on or just a towel wrapped around her.

Just eight of the original photos will be sold at auction at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions in Bloomsbury, London.

They're estimated to go for about $12,000 each.