Freddie Mercury’s iconic piano and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ manuscript fetch over £3 mn at Sotheby’s Auction

In a remarkable evening at London’s Sotheby’s auction house, fans and collectors gathered as the piano once played by the legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, the very instrument that gave birth to his greatest hits, along with the original manuscript of the iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” found new homes, collectively selling for a staggering sum of over £3 million.

The auction, graced by the resounding notes of “We Will Rock You,” was a showcase of Mercury’s memorabilia, boasting more than 1,400 lots up for bidding throughout the week. The iconic facade of the famous auction house bore witness to this extraordinary event, adorned with a colossal mustache in honor of the Queen’s charismatic lead singer.

With 59 lots sold on Wednesday alone, the total revenue reached an astonishing £12,172,290, with every item exceeding its estimated price by double.Mercury’s cherished Yamaha quarter-tail piano, a faithful companion in the creation of his timeless melodies, commanded a price of £1,742,000, including buyer’s premium and fees. Meanwhile, the manuscript for the epic masterpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” changed hands for £1,379,000.

Auctioneer Oliver Barker described the “Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics, meticulously penned across 15 pages in pencil and ballpoint pen, as nothing short of a “modern cultural icon.” Interestingly, the manuscript also unveiled Mercury’s initial intention to name the song “Mongolian Rhapsody.”

Mercury acquired his beloved baby grand piano in 1975 after an extensive six-month quest to find the perfect instrument to give life to his musical compositions.

A record-breaking 2,000 bidders from 61 different countries registered to participate in this extraordinary sale.

A significant portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation, both dedicated to the battle against AIDS.

Elton John, who shared a profound friendship with Freddie Mercury, expressed his sentiments at the beginning of the auction: “I miss Freddie to this day. He was a wonderful friend, full of love and life, as well as a brilliant performer whose music has inspired and thrilled millions. He was kind, generous, and funny, and it is a tragedy that AIDS took him from the world much too soon.”

The auction commenced with fervent bidding for the green door to Mercury’s garden, bearing heartfelt tributes from devoted fans. The door, a portal to Mercury’s Garden Lodge home in west London, far exceeded expectations, selling for £412,750, a remarkable leap from its estimated value of £15,000-25,000.

Aside from musical treasures, the auction included a variety of objects such as furniture, clothing, artwork, and curiosities.

The auction on Wednesday is the first in a series of live and online auctions that will take place over the next few days. Among the lots were pieces by well-known artists such as Chagall, Dali, and Picasso, which had formerly decorated Mercury’s home.

The entirety of this remarkable collection is being presented for sale by Mary Austin, a close friend and former fiancée of Mercury, to whom the iconic singer left his estate.

Mary Austin has lovingly cared for the collection for over three decades, according to Gabriel Heaton, a books and manuscripts specialist at Sotheby’s. He mentioned that Mercury had a deep passion for auctions, being a regular at Sotheby’s sales.

Austin firmly believes that Mercury, who left us at the young age of 45, would have wholeheartedly embraced this sale.

Mercury’s most flamboyant stage costumes, including his Hawaiian shirt and Superman tank top, were also part of the offerings, alongside photographs captured by legendary photographer Mick Rock.

Rafael Reisman, a Brazilian entrepreneur who acquired a crown and cloak stage costume ensemble for £635,000, emphasized that Mercury “belongs to the world.”

Among the treasures sold were a collection of mostly unseen personal polaroids, showcasing Mercury celebrating birthdays, Christmases, cuddling with his cats, and surrounded by cherished objects at home. This archive of 265 photographs, mainly from the mid-1980s, fetched over £88,000.

Additionally, the auction included selections from Mercury’s wine cellar, featuring Dom Perignon champagne, as well as more personal items, like a book of personally annotated poetry and a moustache comb.

Leading up to the sale, Sotheby’s hosted a month-long exhibition of the collection, open to the public free of charge.

Sotheby’s proudly claims that this is the largest collection by volume of a cultural icon to be auctioned since the 1988 Elton John sale, where 2,000 lots brought in a total of £4.8 million.