Freddie Mercury’s collection of ‘clutter’ highlights Sotheby’s September auction
Auction FILE PHOTO: An image of the late Freddie Mercury is projected onto a screen while Adam Lambert + Queen perform onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. An auction of Mercury's possessions will be held later this year. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
By Tom Ensey, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s soaring, unforgettable voice made “We Are The Champions” the anthem that still lives on in sports arenas around the globe.
He left the belongings to close friend Mary Austin when he died in 1991 of AIDS-related illness. Austin kept it pretty much as Mercury left it in his London mansion. She said it was a hard decision but she felt it was time to let the 1,500 items go, the AP reported.
Some of the broad collection includes the crown and robe he wore onstage when he sang “God Save the Queen” for the last time to end the band’s final live performance in 1986, according to The Guardian. The crown is based on St. Edward’s Crown, which will be featured at the coronation of King Charles III in May. It’ll set you back $75,000 to $100,000.
Art prints or works on paper by Matisse and Picasso, as well as many other of Mercury’s favorite famous artists, are among the treasures.
Highlights of the collection will be exhibited in New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong over the summer. There will be a public exhibition in London starting Aug. 5 and closing Sept. 5, which would have been Mercury’s 77th birthday. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go to charity, Sotheby’s said.
Freddie Mercury Brian May and Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen in concert, 1977. (Photo by Brian D. McLaughlin/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Freddie Mercury Rock singer Freddie Mercury (R) drinking a class of champagne as his girlfriend Mary Austin looks on during party for friends at home. (Photo by Terrence Spencer//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images) (Terrence Spencer)
Freddie Mercury UNSPECIFIED - circa 1973: Photo of John DEACON and QUEEN and Brian MAY and Roger TAYLOR and Freddie MERCURY; Posed group portrait - Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury and John Deacon (Photo by RB/Redferns) (RB)
Freddie Mercury 31st October 1977: Singer songwriter Elton John (Reginald Dwight) with star of musicals Peter Straker, and Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), singer with the group Queen. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive)
Freddie Mercury DENMARK - NOVEMBER 01: Photo of QUEEN and Freddie MERCURY; Freddie Mercury performing live onstage, playing piano (Photo by Jan Persson/Redferns) (Jan Persson)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen in London, England in 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland)
Freddie Mercury UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: Photo of QUEEN and Freddie MERCURY; Freddie Mercury performing live on stage, (Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns) (Ian Dickson)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen with the band's manager John Reid, March 1977. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Freddie Mercury Musicians Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) and Roger Taylor of British rock band Queen perform a free concert in London's Hyde Park, 18th September 1976. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images) (Keystone Features)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen arrives at the Knebworth Festival by helicopter, 9th August 1986. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave Hogan)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) performing with British rock group Queen at Wembley Stadium, London, 1986. (Photo by Denis O'Regan/Getty Images) (Denis O'Regan)
Freddie Mercury From left to right, musician John Deacon and Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen in concert, 1980. (Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury with fellow performer Annie Lennox, 21st April 1987. Mercury's group Queen had been presented with an Ivor Novello award marking their 'Outstanding Contribution To British Music' and the Eurythmics had won best song of the year at the same ceremony. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave Hogan)
Freddie Mercury Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) and guitarist Brian May of British rock band Queen in concert at Wembley Stadium, July 1986. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave Hogan)
Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury of Queen sighting on August 29th, 1990, in London, Great Britain. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage) (Tom Wargacki)