From Hitler's paintings to R2-D2, amazing things just sold at auction
lovemoney staff
08 August 2017
Standout sales from the last few weeks
From paintings by Adolf Hitler to golf clubs once owned by Donald Trump, we take a look at some of the most incredible items that have been put up for auction recently.
Dinner with Jack and Rose: winning bid undisclosed
A lucky bidder recently bagged a private dinner with none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The ultimate treat for Titanic fans was auctioned off at the annual Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gala in St. Tropez, which raised millions for charity.
BMW Spaghetti Car: $117,000 (£89k)
Along with the DiCaprio and Winslet dinner, this bizarre BMW Spaghetti Car was up for grabs at the glittering gala event. The handiwork of artists Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari of Toilet Paper magazine, the automobile fetched $117,000 (£89k).
R2-D2 prop: $2.76 million (£2.1m)
The Holy Grail for Star Wars fans, an R2-D2 prop assembled from parts used in the original film trilogy netted a cool $2.76 million (£2.1m) at a Profiles in History sale in California a few weeks ago.
Stars Wars original Luke Skywalker lightsaber: $450,000 (£343k)
At the same once-in-a-lifetime auction, the original lightsaber wielded by Luke Skywalker went for $450,000 (£343k), while Darth Vader's helmet fetched a bargain $96,000 ($73k).
Donald Trump's golf clubs: $29,798 (£22.7k)
Trump memorabilia is hot right now. On July 13, a set of engraved clubs used by the president before he was elected sold for almost $30,000 (£22.8k) at an RR auction in Boston.
Donald Trump's sketch of the New York skyline: $29,184 (£22k)
Likewise, this doodle of the Big Apple skyline, which was sketched by Trump back in 2005, realized $29,184 (£22k) at a Nate D. Sanders sale in Los Angeles.
The world's most expensive Chinese antique art piece: $27 million (£21m)
A world record for a Chinese antique art piece, this highly-prized 2,000-year-old bronze bowl went for an astronomical $27 million (£21m) at an auction in Hangzhou, eastern China on July 15.
Gold Cadbury's Creme Egg: $22,600 (£17.2k)
This 22ct gold version of a Cadbury's Creme Egg was produced by jeweller Garrard & Co. for a treasure hunt promotion in 1983. It was sold at a Batemans auction in Lincolnshire, England for $22,600 (£17.2k).
Elvis Presley's pyjamas: $10,400 (£8k)
A roomy pair of PJs worn by the King during a hospital stay in 1977 realised $10,400 (£8k) at a Henry Aldridge and Son auction in Wiltshire, England on July 22.
Signed Einstein tongue photo: $125,000 (£95k)
This famous photo of Albert Einstein showing his irreverent side was taken by Arthur Sasse in 1951. Nine copies were made, and this particular signed print fetched $125,000 (£95k) at a Los Angeles auction.
Charlie Sheen's Babe Ruth collection: $4.4 million (£3.4m)
Babe Ruth memorabilia sells for sky-high prices. A few weeks ago, a Babe Ruth ring and contract belonging to Charlie Sheen realised a not too shabby $4.4 million (£3.4m) at auction.
The largest house in Texas: undisclosed
They say everything is big in Texas, including the houses, and this 48,000-square-foot château-style beauty near Dallas is the biggest one of them all. The property was auctioned off last month for an undisclosed sum.
Andy Warhol's first 'selfie': $7.9 million (£6m)
Andy Warhol created this screen-printed 'selfie' in 1963 from a photo booth image of himself. One of a series of nine, it garnered $7.9 million (£6m) at a recent Sotheby's auction.
Neil Armstrong's lunar sample bag: $1.8 million (£1.4m)
Laced with moon dust, the original bag used by Neil Armstrong to gather samples from the lunar surface sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $1.8 million (£1.4m) last month.
Disney Snow White original cine reels: $21,000 (£16k)
Several weeks ago, a pair of original hand-painted cine reels from Disney's 1939 Snow White movie realised $21,000 (£16k) at a Hansons auction in Leicestershire, England.
Disney Fantasia concept artwork: $59,750 (£46k)
Across the pond, another piece of Disney history went under the hammer at a Heritage Auctions sale in Dallas: a Key Neilsen concept painting for the Fantasia movie, which was snapped up for $59,750 (£46k).
Michael Jordan's Olympic Converse sneakers: $190,373 (£145k)
Worn by Michael Jordan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, this battered pair of sneakers recently fetched $190,373 (£145k) at an SCP auction in Arizona, a world record for a pair of game-worn footwear.
A 250-year-old hotel receipt: $111 (£85)
Earlier last month, the Vine Hotel in Stafford, England, which has been in operation for centuries, bought back a receipt it issued in 1767. Hotel staff snapped up the ancient receipt for $111 (£85) at a Hansons auction in Derbyshire.
The Queen's Daimler: $56,500 (£43.7k)
Queen Elizabeth II's trusty dark green 2001 Daimler Majestic was picked up by a buyer for a reasonable $56,500 (£43k) after it failed to meet its reserve price at an auction in Duxford, England.
Nazi Enigma machine: $51,620 (£39.3k)
On July 11, a World War II Nazi Enigma message-encrypting machine, which was bought in a flea market for just $115 (£88), fetched $51,620 (£39.3k) at an Artmark auction in Bucharest.
The world's most expensive earrings: $57.4 million (£43.7m)
The most pricey earrings ever to go under the hammer, this mismatched pair of fancy coloured diamond earrings recently sold for an eye-watering $57.4 million (£43.7m) at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva.
Winston Churchill's secret channel tunnel plans $3,150 (£2.4k)
Secret documents that reveal Winston Churchill's plan to build a channel tunnel with a drawbridge sold for $3,150 (£2.4k) at a Mullock's auction in Shropshire, England last month.
Four paintings by Adolf Hitler: $9,850 (£7.5k)
At the same Shropshire auction, four amateurish paintings by Churchill's arch-nemesis Adolf Hitler went under the hammer, realising $9,850 (£7.5k).
Jane Austen's shade-throwing letter: $213,000 (£162k)
An 1812 letter from Jane Austen to her niece in which she subtly pokes fun at Gothic author Rachel Hunter and parodies her work realised $213,000 (£162k) at a Sotheby's auction in London last month.
Sealed mint copy of Nintendo's Stadium Events game: $41,977 (£32k)
This super-rare copy of Nintendo's Stadium Events video game, which was pulled from the shelves not long after its launch in 1987, was sold via an eBay auction for almost $42,000 (£32k) last month.
Sealed mint copy of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. game: $30,000 (£23k)
Hot on its heels, a sealed mint copy of Nintendo's classic 1985 Super Mario Bros. game, one of only a handful in the world, sold for $30,000 (£23k) on eBay.
Personal collection of Princess Diana's stepmother: $2.5 million (£1.9m)
A selection of items from the estate of Princess Diana's stepmother Countess Raine Spencer, including Louis XVI furniture and vintage haute couture, realised $2.5 million (£1.9m) at a Christie's auction in London last month.
Earliest known painting of the Brontë sisters: $65,700 (£50k)
The earliest known painting of the renowned literary siblings, this watercolour by Sir Edwin Landseer was sold last month for $65,700 (£50k) by JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northamptonshire, England.
Pair of American War of Independence amputation kits: $104,000 (£79.3k)
Two amputation kits that were used by arm surgeon and Harvard Medical School founder John Warren during the American War of Independence fetched $104,000 (£79.3k) at an RR Auction in Boston last month.
Aaron Judge's Yankees debut jersey: $157,366 (£120k)
Someone recently paid $157,366 (£120k) for the jersey Aaron Judge wore for his Yankees debut, a record price for any jersey worn in four major US sports over the last 15 years.
George Formby's banjolele: $36,800 (£28k)
A banjolele that once belonged to George Formby, the UK's highest-paid entertainer in the late 1930s and 1940s, realised $36,800 (£28k) at auction last month, exceeding its reserve price comfortably.
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