Freddie Mercury’s personal possessions were sold at auction for a record-breaking £40 million ($50.4 million/418.77 crores in INR). The highest-priced item was the Yamaha Baby Grand Piano, on which he recorded hits like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which sold for £1.7 million. Surprisingly, the Tiffany Moustache Comb, originally estimated at £400, sold for an astonishing £152,000. The handwritten working lyrics for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ had a final bid of £1.4 million, and a silver snake bangle from the 1975 music video sold for £698,500. Some of the costumes were also sold, with a rainbow satin jacket going for £203,200 and a silver catsuit worn by the ‘Killer Queen’ singer in 1977 and 1979 fetching £139,700. Sotheby’s in London estimated earnings of £7.6 million to £11.3 million, but the final result exceeded expectations.
Over the course of six days, more than 30,000 items from Freddie Mercury’s London home, Garden Lodge, were sold at the auction. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, Oliver Barker, emphasized Freddie Mercury’s iconic status and the enduring love people have for him and Queen’s music. He also mentioned the new generation of fans who appreciate Freddie’s talent and personality.
Freddie Mercury’s bandmate, Sir Brian May, expressed his sadness over the sale, as it included intimate personal effects and writings that were part of their shared history. He admitted that he couldn’t bear to witness the auction. Mary Austin, Freddie’s close friend to whom he left all his possessions after his death, explained her decision to sell after more than 30 years. She said that while it was a difficult choice, she wanted to do it in a way that she believed Freddie would have loved, as he was an avid collector who found beauty and enjoyment in everything.