Freddie Mercury Auction Nets £12.2M on First Day
The first day of the Freddie Mercury auction at Sotheby’s London brought in £12.2 million. The multi-day sale of the late Queen frontman's personal effects is being closely watched by collectors and is expected to surpass £50 million in total.
- The collection of over 1,400 items was sold by Mary Austin, a close friend of Mercury's, to whom he bequeathed his home, Garden Lodge, and its contents. The items had been preserved there for over 30 years since his death. - The opening night was a "white glove" auction, meaning every single one of the 59 lots offered was sold, with bidders from 61 countries participating. Nearly 60% of the 2,000 registered bidders were first-time Sotheby's clients. - A significant sale was Mercury's 1973 Yamaha baby grand piano, used to compose hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody," which sold for £1.74 million ($2.2 million). However, this was below its pre-sale estimate of £2 million to £3 million. - The handwritten working lyrics for "Bohemian Rhapsody" were a highlight, fetching £1.38 million ($1.8 million). Other handwritten lyrics for songs like "We Are the Champions" and "Somebody To Love" also sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. - A silver snake bangle worn by Mercury in the "Bohemian Rhapsody" music video shattered its estimate, selling for £698,500 ($882,000)—nearly 100 times its estimate and a record for jewelry owned by a rock star. - The iconic crown and cloak ensemble worn during Queen's 1986 "Magic Tour" sold for £635,000. Even a small Tiffany & Co. silver mustache comb sold for £152,400, more than 250 times its estimate. - Proceeds from the sale of an onyx and diamond Cartier ring, a gift to Mercury from Elton John, were donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The ring sold for £273,050. - The total auction series, featuring over 30,000 objects in six sales, ultimately brought in £39.9 million ($50.4 million), far exceeding the initial estimate of £7.6 million to £11.3 million.
