When Sotheby's announced last spring that it would be auctioning off Freddie Mercury's collection this year, there was little doubt that it would be a successful sale. Divided into three live and three online auctions, around 1,500 items of stage clothes, handwritten lyrics, artworks and many personal items will be sold.
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Bidding for the three online auctions has been open since August 11 and the interest is enormous. Up to now, almost 90% of the nearly 900 items have received at least one bid, with many even receiving dozens of bids.
Already on August 18, Sotheby's noted in an article on its website that an item that at first sight seemed insignificant was becoming the absolute favorite among the bidders: Freddie Mercury's silver moustache comb from Tiffany & Co. The value of the comb, which is only 7 centimeters long, was estimated at £400-600 ($500-760) before the auction. On August 18, the bid had already risen to £24,000 ($30,000), and today it stands at £26,000 ($33,000) after 51 bids.
In the article about the comb, editor Mariko Finch emphasizes "the wider trend of collectibles gaining substantial value over time" - a trend that Alexander Bitar, dealer and expert on collectibles in the entertainment industry, can confirm: "To value items with remarkable provenance is difficult and somewhat complicated. We're not looking at the item itself but rather the historical significance given by its provenance. Auction houses tend to place low, conservative estimates and let the market decide the value.“ Indeed, the estimated prices for the three online auctions are generally low and have already been greatly exceeded due to the high level of interest.
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That a moustache comb, of all things, is in the spotlight is hardly surprising, given its direct connection to Mercury's iconic 1980s look. "The low estimate reflects the true value of the moustache comb without the Freddie Mercury provenance. However, because Mercury is heavily associated with his moustache, and this being his personal moustache comb, it is not a surprise that the item will sell for 100 times the estimate," Bitar continues.
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The three online auctions will end on September 11, 12 and 13 and, with their lively bidding, will definitely add to the excitement of the three live auctions taking place at Sotheby's in London on September 6, 7 and 8. So which item will emerge victorious? It seems quite likely that it could be Freddie Mercury's legendary stage outfit, consisting of a coat and a crown, valued at £60,000-80,000 ($76,000-101,000).
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