Hello, Norma Jean! One Man's Trash May Be a Real Treasure

Trash in the attic! A Virginia roofer discovered a naked picture of Marilyn Monroe -- or someone who looks just like her -- in a hidden stash of pornography, and now the rare image will be auctioned off in November with other Americana.

The roofer, who wishes to remain anonymous, was working on a Falls Church home in 1997 when construction workers rehabbing an old house next door discovered a secret cache of dirty photos in the rec room ceiling. Everything was dumped on the curb as trash, but the roofer took home the interesting bits. Upon closer inspection, he decided that one of the six nude models on a 35mm filmstrip looked just like Norma Jean Baker -- Monroe's early professional name. After years of exhaustive research, he took the picture to Sloans & Kenyon auction house in Chevy Chase last month.

"We believe it might be her first nude," says company President Stephanie Kenyon . A leg scar matches one from other authenticated pictures of Monroe at the time.

The photo -- totally nude but not full-frontal -- may have been made by W.O. Schwartz in May 1945, when the 19-year-old model was just beginning her career. The filmstrip, made to insert in a hand-held viewfinder, also includes other models from L.A.'s Blue Book agency, all posing for cheerful girlie shots in a style typical of the period and popular with World War II GIs.

"Entirely possible," said photographer Douglas Kirkland , who shot the actress in 1961 for Look magazine. Kirkland said Monroe survived by modeling at that time, although he's never seen anything quite like the filmstrip.

No word on what the naked picture is worth. The auction kicks off Nov. 10; the house is still trying to determine a pre-sale estimate.

One Part British Royal, No Parts Scotch

Prince Andrew, talking up (but not downing) Scotch.(Mj Kim - Getty Images)

It's been two decades since Prince Andrew dominated the gossip columns and the most-eligible lists, but the Cute Windsor proved at the British Embassy last night that he can still draw a big crowd. Then again, it was for a good cause -- a celebration of Scotch, complete ( yes! ) with open bar.

"There is something very special about whiskey," said HRH, who came to town as the UK's special trade rep. "This industry is entirely natural -- no additives, just water and peat." Today he moves on to rye, helping reopen George Washington 's distillery at Mount Vernon.

As the 46-year-old single dad extolled the virtues of Scotland's second-largest export (thanks largely to us Yanks consuming 25 percent of the output), the room warmed to his dry Brit humor. "I ought to say right at the start, I've never actually tried any of this stuff."

Ha ha ha! Oh wait -- apparently it's true. Hasn't touched the stuff since the Navy, we're told. "The royal family drinks very little," said the ambassador, Sir David Manning . Well, then -- what a jolly good sport!

In the Maryland Senate Race, Everything Has Gone Straight to the Dogs

The Puppy War -- also known as the Maryland Senate campaign -- is heating up. Republican Michael Steele told us he loves puppies, while cuddling a cute Boston terrier, in a high-profile television ad. Dems backing Ben Cardin countered that Steele might love puppies, but not as much as he loves President Bush . The puppy resurfaced yesterday in a new Steele ad, growling.

Time for the canine truth squad: The dog in the commercials is an actor -- 8-month-old Mr. Moesby , owned by Republican consultant Brad Todd . Steele has a male Siberian husky named Ares -- who, at 3 years old, is hardly a puppy. Cardin doesn't own any dogs at the moment, although his wife swears he loves chocolate Labs and used to have cocker spaniels.

The only Free State candidate with a real puppy at home is Martin O'Malley . Son William , 8, got an Airedale mix named Scout in July.

Hey, Isn't That . . . ?

· Karl Rove , arriving beyond fashionably late (12 minutes after it was supposed to end!) to a party for new Time editor Rick Stengel (the kind of thing where Hillary Clinton schmoozed with Tom DeLay ); the senior Bush aide was overheard proclaiming, "My man, Bob Luskin ! Bob Luskin is my man!" -- speaking of his lawyer, of course.

· "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines , lunching at the Rayburn House Office Building cafeteria yesterday and doing a dead-on impression of a Hill staffer in a sleek black pantsuit and white shirt. The comedian was lobbying for people with disabilities, ahead of the United Cerebral Palsy gala she's due to attend tonight.