The value of sales of thousands of pieces of the late British star Freddie Mercury’s belongings during a series of auctions reached 40 million pounds sterling (about 49.5 million dollars), which is a record for a collection of this type, according to what Sotheby’s reported today (Friday). «Agence France-Presse».
The auction house explained, in a statement, that all of the more than 1,400 lots were sold, with more than 41,800 offers submitted by bidders, including 27,100 registered online.
One of 4 gold brooches from Cartier, London “Queen No. 1” (AFP)
About 99 percent of the pieces were sold for numbers higher than their originally high estimated prices, in contrast to key pieces in these auctions, including Freddie Mercury’s piano, which he used to compose almost all of his various works, starting with the song “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Theatrical costumes worn by Freddie Mercury are on display in Sotheby’s auction rooms in London (AFP)
This Yamaha musical instrument was sold for 1.742 million pounds ($2.18 million), which is a record for a piano owned by a composer, according to Sotheby’s. The estimated price of the piano was between two and three million pounds ($2.47 to $3.75 million).
The piano that Freddie Mercury used to compose almost all of his works, starting with the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” (AFP)
Bidders participating in this series of auctions were from 76 countries in Europe, North America and Latin America, while buyers belonged to 50 countries.
Among the most notable items sold was the manuscript for the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” for 1.3 million pounds ($1.72 million).
In addition, two manuscripts were sold for 317 thousand pounds sterling (about 397 thousand dollars), one for the song “We Are the Champions” and the other for “Don’t Step Me Now.”
Among the many pieces of clothing that were offered, the crown and robe that the singer wore during Queen’s “Magic Tour” in 1986 were sold for 635 thousand pounds sterling ($793.27 thousand), exceeding the estimated price that was set for them by about ten times.
Freddie Mercury’s distinctive crown and cape that were worn throughout the Queen’s “Magic” tour in 1986 (AFP)
The comb that the singer used for his mustache was sold for 152,000 pounds ($188.72,000), while its estimated price was 400 pounds.
Mary Austin, Freddie Mercury’s friend, who was his fiancée and was designated as his heir, put the entire collection up for sale.
Before these collectibles were put up for auction, a free exhibition was held for them that lasted for a month at Sotheby’s headquarters in London, and the number of visitors reached about 140,000, in addition to 10,000 others who visited exhibitions held in New York, Los Angeles, or Hong Kong, according to Sotheby’s.
Freddie Mercury’s silk jacket containing pictures of his cats (AFP)
A portion of the auction proceeds will be allocated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which seek to combat AIDS, which Mercury was infected with when he died in 1991 at the age of 45.
