Iconic Freddie Mercury memorabilia sells for millions at auction

The piano Queen frontman Freddie Mercury used to compose almost all of his greatest songs and the original manuscript for “Bohemian Rhapsody” were snapped up for over £3 million when they went under the hammer in London.
The Sotheby’s auction room echoed to the sound of the track “We Will Rock You” before bidding began at the black-tie evening auction.
The items were among over 1,400 lots of Mercury memorabilia up for grabs over the next week, with the famous auction house’s facade decorated with a huge moustache for the occasion.
The 59 lots sold on Wednesday brought in £12.2 million (US$15.4 million), Sotheby’s said, adding that each one went for more than double the estimated price.

Mercury’s Yamaha quarter-tail piano went for £1.7 million, including buyer’s premium and fees, while the manuscript for the epic hit song “Bohemian Rhapsody” fetched £1.3 million.
Auctioneer Oliver Barker called the “Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics – contained in 15-pages of pencil and ballpoint pen remarks – a “modern cultural icon”.
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The manuscript also reveals that Mercury, who died from Aids in 1991, originally intended to call the song “Mongolian Rhapsody”.
Mercury’s cherished baby grand was purchased by the charismatic star in 1975 after an exhaustive six-month search for “the ideal instrument to bring to life” his compositions.

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