More than 1,500 personal items of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury are to be auctioned for the first time.
The legacy includes handwritten lyrics to some the of the band’s greatest hits – including Killer Queen and We are the Champions.
There is also Mercury’s silver moustache comb made by Tiffany’s. It is valued at £400.
The objects were left to Mary Austin – a close friend and his executor.
She has cared for the many works in the singer’s Garden Lodge home in Kensington, London, since his death in 1991.
She said: “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.
“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.
“It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would have loved, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction.
“Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything.
“I hope this 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.”
The melange of art and artefacts is valued at £6 million by auctioneers Sotheby’s.
But the prices could be higher given the unique provenance of the items.
These include the last work Mercury bought, James Jacques Tissot’s 1880 painting Type of Beauty, estimated to be worth £400,000.
He also bought works by Picasso and Matisse.
Mercury kept some handwritten copies of his lyrics, including those for We Will Rock You.
They are estimated to be worth £300,000.
David MacDonald, head of single sales for Sotheby’s in London, said:
“Freddie Mercury’s collection is a manifestation of one extraordinary man’s creativity, taste, and unerring eye for beauty, presenting so much more than just an exquisite selection of the best examples by artists across centuries and countries.
During autumn of 2023, Sotheby’s will use its 16,000 square foot London gallery space to display Mercury’s collection. The items will be sold off across six auctions in September.
