Freddie Mercury Bangle Auction Record : Sotheby’s had a record-breaking sale of Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand piano, used to write hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” for £1.7 million ($2.2 million). Over 1,330 pieces from Mercury’s collection were sold at the auction. They included stage costumes, lyrics, and art. Mary Austin, a friend of Mercury’s who inherited his belongings, is selling them, with a portion of the proceeds going to charities.
Mercury’s handwritten “Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics, sold for £1.4 million ($1.7 million), and a gold Cartier brooch saying “Queen number 1,” sold for £165,000 ($208,000), were the priciest items tied to the song. The silver snake ring Mercury wore in a music video sold for £663,575 ($836,950), a new record for a rock star’s jewelry. In other news, a graffiti-covered green door from Mercury’s Kensington home was sold for £25,000. After a 15-minute bidding war, the door sold for £392,112.50 ($494,950). Elton John gifted Mercury a Cartier onyx and a diamond ring. The ring sold for £273,000 ($344,000), and all proceeds went to Elton John’s AIDS fund.
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Prints by Picasso ($190,500), Dalí ($48,260), and Chagall ($63,500) were sold. Fans could bid on Mercury’s handwritten drafts of famous songs like “Somebody to Love” (£241,000; $304,000) and “We Are the Champions” (£317,500; $400,700). Changes were made to the drafts. For instance, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was initially “Mongolian Rhapsody” before being crossed out. The sale exceeded expectations in multiple ways. A pair of chopsticks with an estimated value of £40-£60 now has a bid of £1,200 ($1,500). A silver mustache comb from Tiffany & Co. sold for £35,000 ($43,750), exceeding its expected price of £400–600 ($500–750).
Sotheby’s set a new record for the highest price paid for a composer’s piano but didn’t disclose the previous record amount. The exhibit “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own” attracted many visitors to the auctions in person and online. Over 140K people went to Sotheby’s to see the items. The show highlights Freddie Mercury and Queen’s lasting legacy. Mercury died of pneumonia from AIDS at 45 in 1991, but his songs and items still sell for high prices. The sale highlights Mercury’s artist talent and Victorian lifestyle, achieved through Queen’s success.