Freddie Mercury’s Personal Belongings to Be Sold at Auction

The personal belongings of late Queen singer Freddie Mercury are set to sell at auction in late 2023 by his close friend Mary Austin.

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Following his death in 1991, Mercury left his London home, Garden Lodge, and all its possessions to Austin, who has kept his collection as he left it for more than three decades. Now more than 30 years after his death, Austin decided that it was time to part ways with Mercury’s belongings, which include his replica crown and handwritten lyrics, along with his collections of instruments, paintings and stage costumes.

“For many years now, I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought out and so loved,” said Austin in a statement released by Sotheby’s. “But the years have passed, and the time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life.”

Freddie Mercury’s Crown and Cloak (Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s)

The 1,500 pieces will be exhibited by Sotheby’s in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong before being sold at six auctions in August and September of 2023.

“Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything,” added Austin. “I hope [the upcoming events] will be an opportunity to share all the many facets of Freddie, both public and private, and for the world to understand more about, and celebrate, his unique and beautiful spirit.”

Austin first met Mercury in 1970 when she was 19 and on a date with Queen guitarist Brian May. She and Mercury continued to remain close friends and moved in together. When Mercury later became sick after contracting AIDS, Austin also cared for him.

Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 – 1991) with his friend Mary Austin at an after-party for Queen’s Wembley concerts, Kensington Roof Gardens, London, 12th July 1986. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

Of all his possessions, Austin said that letting go of his musical notes and lyrics will be the most difficult. Mercury’s handwritten lyrics to Queen’s anthem “We Are The Champions,” including the harmonies and chords written across nine pages, are expected to sell for £200,000-300,000 (approximately $249,000-$374,000).

“You’re looking at the process of the artist, of work in progress,” said Austin to the BBC. “The crossings out, the rethinking, the reformatting. I decided that it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to keep things back. If I was going to sell, I had to be brave and sell the lot.”

Freddie Mercury’s vintage 1980s telephone (Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s)

The auction is expected to generate more than $7.4 million. Austin will donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the items to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“The collection takes you deeper within the individual and the man I knew,” added Austin. “You see the spectrum of his taste. It’s a very intelligent, sophisticated collection.”

(Photo Credit: SteveJennings / WireImage)

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