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"I love the fact that I can make people happy in any form… Even if it’s just an hour of their lives, if I can make them feel lucky or make them feel good, or bring a smile to a sour face, that to me is worthwhile,” believed Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara), the lead singer of the world renowned British band Queen. Over three decades after his demise, the magic of his music and the memorabilia associated with the man had, to the delight of his fans, been made available for free public viewing by Sotheby’s before auctioning the 1,400 plus lots beginning September 6, 2023, a day after his 77th birth anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After traveling to New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, the exhibition returned to London where "every inch of Sotheby’s 16,000 sq ft gallery space (was) dedicated to celebrating Mercury’s rich and multi-faceted life and passions. The collection, presented at 15 of Sotheby’s galleries had recreated vistas of his residence, Garden Lodge. "Never before have we had the privilege of coming so close to illuminating his personal world… His sense of joie de vivre and generous spirit is a thread that runs through the entire collection, which takes us on a journey through his life — from his school days, to college, the fledgling years of his career, and of course his greatest stage moments,” commented David Macdonald, head of Single Owner Sales at Sotheby’s London.
"From the early schooltime experiments with poetry, to his newly-discovered designs for Queen’s famous crest and working manuscripts for many of the band’s most famous songs, to the ground-breaking costumes which took the world by storm — these are all waiting to be discovered together with the beautiful paintings, furniture, Japanese decorative arts, glass, graphic arts, ceramics and objets d’art that Mercury sought out from auction houses and top manufacturers,” noted a press release from the auctioneers. "I love going to auctions” Mercury had remarked in his prime. "The one thing I would really miss if I left Britain would be Sotheby’s.”
Occupying pride of place at the auction was Mercury’s baby grand piano, used to compose some of the most popular songs of the 20th century, for which the bids expected are in the region of two to three million pounds (Rs 20.9 crore to 31.4 crore). The other prized items are autographed draft lyrics for Killer Queen, 1974, £ 50,000 to 70,000 (Rs 52 lakh to 73.4 lakh), Somebody To Love, 1976, £ 150,000-200,000 (Rs 1.5 crore to 2.09 crore),We Are The Champions, 1977,       £ 200,000 to 300,000 (Rs 2.09 crore to 3.13 crore) and Bohemian Rhapsody, 1974, £ 800,000 to 1.2 million (Rs 8.3 crore to Rs 12.5 crore).
The showman’s flamboyant outfits on stage are expected to earn between £ 6,000 to 50,000 (Rs 6.2 lakh to 52 lakh) depending on where and when they were worn. His signature crown and cloak ensemble, worn throughout the ‘Magic’ Tour between June 7 and August 9, 1986 is estimated at £ 60,000 - 80,000 (Rs 62 lakh to 83.9 lakh). Among the less expensive items would be a motley group of 29 feline ornaments that represented his love for cats, as also his favorite games and puzzles, especially Scrabble in which he excelled.
The "exquisite clutter” from Garden Lodge was being sold by Mary Austin, his closest friend  to whom he had bequeathed the property. When some questioned Austin’s decision to auction his possessions instead of creating a museum in his memory, she was quoted in the British press as stating that at the age of 72 she felt the need to set her affairs in order while giving the world a chance to own a piece of musical history. A portion of the total sale proceeds, expected to fetch between £ 7.6 million to £ 11 million (Rs 79.7 crore to 115 crore), "will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation. Mercury’s current estate is believed to be worth £ 60 million (Rs 629 crore).
The six auctions (three live and three online), each one devoted to a different aspect of his life, were scheduled to continue until September 13.