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Tag: Auction

  • 5G Auction Blows Past $76 Billion, Shattering Estimates

    5G Auction Blows Past $76 Billion, Shattering Estimates

    The auction for 5G spectrum in the US has shattered estimates, passing $76 billion as of Monday.

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is holding the auction for mid-band spectrum. The spectrum is especially valuable for wireless companies, as it is seen as the sweet spot for 5G. While low-band offers excellent range and building penetration, its speed is only marginally better than 4G LTE. High-band, also known as mmWave, offers speeds in the gigabits, but is limited by extremely short range and poor penetration. Mid-band spectrum offers speeds in excess of 1 Gbps, while still providing reasonable range and penetration.

    Verizon and AT&T are especially in need of mid-band spectrum, as neither company has the enough to bridge the gap between their low and high-band 5G networks. T-Mobile, in contrast, inherited a wealth of mid-band as a result of their merger with Sprint, making the company the one to beat in the 5G market.

    As Bloomberg points out, analysts had predicted the auction could go as high as $47 billion, a figure that is now in the distant rear-view. Verizon has been the biggest bidder so far, and will likely continue to dominate the auction. The company cannot afford to walk away without massive gains if it expects to remain competitive.

    AT&T’s need is just as dire, but the company doesn’t have the resources to spend as heavily as Verizon. Some experts believe AT&T’s recent efforts to sell DirecTV may be to raise the necessary money to purchase a meaningful share of 5G spectrum.

    While T-Mobile is the company that is currently the most spectrum rich, it may want to bolster its holdings even more, especially in cities and heavily populated areas where networks can become bogged down more easily. The company also has an interest in bidding to help drive the price up, ensuring Verizon and AT&T don’t walk away with huge swaths of spectrum for a bargain basement price.

    It remains to be seen just how high the bidding will go, but the current price gives a small glimpse into just how committed US wireless carriers are to their 5G rollouts.

  • Ferrari 290 MM Could Sell For Over $28M at Auction

    A classic Ferrari built for Formula One legend Juan Manual Fangio could pull a whopping $28 million at auction – or maybe even more.

    According to Sotheby’s, the 1956 Ferrari 290 MM is one of the greatest, most original, and most valuable cars ever offered at public auction.

    “In the history of motor racing, it is hard to imagine two names with greater stature than Ferrari and Juan Manuel Fangio, the enigmatic five-time Formula One World Champion. To find a car which so closely connects these two great motor racing legends is the Holy Grail for car collectors and aficionados the world over. RM Sotheby’s is thrilled to announce it will offer one such automobile, the ex-Works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, chassis 0626, at its exclusive Driven by Disruption sale, December 10 in New York City. Raced not only by Fangio but also future World Champion Phil Hill, along with numerous other celebrated Ferrari Formula One drivers, the featured Ferrari is undoubtedly one of the greatest, most original, and most valuable cars ever offered at public auction,” says Sotheby’s RM auctions.

    Another Ferrari – a 250 GTO Berlinetta – sold for $38.1 million last year and holds the record. But the 290 MM’s value still makes it one of the most expensive cars to come to market.

    “It’s hard to know where to start when describing just how important this 290 MM is,” says Peter Wallman, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “Driven by the greatest drivers of the 1950s and built for possibly THE greatest driver in history, this is a car with which Enzo Ferrari was personally involved and is a fundamental part of Ferrari folklore. Its originality, coupled with its extraordinary provenance and history, which are truly second to none, can only lead you to conclude that it is one of the most desirable and valuable cars that will ever come to the open market.”

    The car is one of only four 290 MMs to exist.

  • Pope Francis’ Old iPad Sells for $30K at Auction

    An old iPad, once owned by Internet-lover Pope Francis, has fetched a sizable sum at a local charity auction.

    Reuters reports that the iPad was sold for $30,500 on Tuesday. All the proceeds will go to a school for the disadvantaged in Uruguay. The iPad is engraved with the words “His Holiness Francisco. Servizio Internet Vatican, March 2013” and comes with a certificate of authenticity from The Vatican.

    Apparently, Pope Francis turned the iPad over to a Uruguayan priest with the directive “do something good with it.” So the priest donated it to a local school, a couple hundred miles north of Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo.

    The iPad was eventually sold through a small, local auction house called Castells – but only after failed attempts to sell it through larger auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

    Pope Francis has embraced technology and the internet during his tenure as leader of the Catholic Church. He has called the internet a “gift from God” and urged us all to become “citizens of the digital world.”

    “In a world like this, media can help us to feel closer to one another, creating a sense of the unity of the human family which can in turn inspire solidarity and serious efforts to ensure a more dignified life for all. Good communication helps us to grow closer, to know one another better, and ultimately, to grow in unity. The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another. We need to resolve our differences through forms of dialogue which help us grow in understanding and mutual respect. A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive. Media can help us greatly in this, especially nowadays, when the networks of human communication have made unprecedented advances,” said Francis.

    Just not Facebook. Facebook is mean.

    Images via Castells, Wikimedia Commons

  • Burt Reynolds To Auction ’77 Pontiac Trans Am From ‘Smokey And The Bandit’

    One of the most iconic cars in American movie history will be on the auction block this month.

    This year’s Spring Carlisle Auction event will be auctioning off a restored 1977 Pontiac Trans Am owned by Burt Reynolds.

    Running from April 23-24, the Spring Carlisle Auction will be held at the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. More than 350 cars are consigned to be auctioned off during the 2 day event.

    Despite being among the 350 plus cars that will be on the block, this 1977 black on black Trans Am is guaranteed to turn heads. Aside from being designed to match the iconic vehicle from Smokey and the Bandit, the car is owned by the bandit himself – Burt Reynolds.

    Reynolds bought the car last year and had it carefully restored by close friend and Trans Am restoration whiz Harold Murphy of Murphy Auto Body and Restoration out on West Palm Beach, Florida.

    The restored car has since been part of Reynolds’ collection and is expected to be the last of his cars that will be auctioned off.

    The car’s successful bidder will receive the Florida DMV title that testifies it’s owned by the Smokey and the Bandit star. The Trans Am also carries Reynolds’ autograph on its dashboard and hood, and the new owner will also receive an autographed hat and jacket that the star wore during a photo shoot.

    But how much should serious car collectors shell out for this particular Trans Am? Based on Trans Am expert Rick Deiters’ explanation, it’s going to be a lot.

    “To find an authentic black on black 1977 TA Special Edition proves to be a mission because only a limited amount of them were produced,” explained Deiters.

    “In 2014 alone, ones in museum quality condition sold for over $100,000 and in December of 2014, another ‘77 Trans Am from Reynolds’ collection sold for $450,000,” he added.

    And that Trans Am wasn’t in as pristine condition as the one that’s currently up for grabs.

  • Loni Anderson Joins Burt Reynolds in Auction Fever: What Gives?

    Loni Anderson is auctioning off a bunch of stuff, too?

    The Interwebs have been abuzz for days about Burt Reynolds auctioning off hundreds of items from his personal collection. And these aren’t just odd gifts he’s gotten from fans or old posters. The man is auctioning the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. He’s auctioning of his 1998 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Boogie Nights.

    While there have been theories that Reynolds is broke, trying to stave off bankruptcy, or maybe dying, the actor says that’s all baloney

    “I want everyone to know that contrary to what all the news outlets are saying, I am not broke,” he said in a statement.

    “I have been dealing with a business dispute for many years as well as a divorce settlement,” he added. “I am simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore. Quite frankly, I am sick of so many pictures of myself in my own home.”

    But now we hear that Burt’s ex, Loni Anderson, is also selling off some stuff — but just stuff he gave her. What gives?

    Anderson explains:

    “About a year ago we were having dinner with our son,” said Loni. “Jon Voight was at the dinner with us, and we were all talking about all the stuff that you accumulate over the years. We’d been thinking about scaling back: ‘What are we gonna do with all this stuff? Do you have a museum for yourself? No.’ And so what are you gonna do with it? Share it.”

    Apparently, Burt Reynolds has given Anderson a lot of gifts over the years. Now she is letting some of them go.

    It still seems odd that the only stuff getting auctioned is Burt’s. Oh well, if there is anything more to it, I’m sure some rumor mill will grind it out.

  • Loni Anderson Auctions Off Precious Gifts From Ex-Husband Burt Reynolds

    One of television’s most beloved actresses Loni Anderson is selling an entire collection of items featuring her most prized possessions that were given by her former husband, Burt Reynolds. Anderson was spotted at the Julien’s Auctions Gallery in Los Angeles as a part of their highly anticipated auction Icons & Idols: Hollywood.

    The 69-year-old actress who became famous after her stint in the hit 70s comedy show WKRP in Cincinnati posed next to the queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese, who warmed up the media and their respective guests for the upcoming auction which kicks off on December 5.

    In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the former pin-up model opened up about her main reason for selling her beloved items from Reynolds. At a dinner with Jon Voight last year, they got into a conversation about the stuff that they have accumulated throughout their years in the biz. “We’d been thinking about scaling back,” the actress admitted. “What are you gonna do with it? Share it.”

    Reynolds and Anderson were married for a few years before getting separated back in 1994. In order to woo the blonde bombshell, Reynolds would occasionally shower his wife with expensive presents. Over 60 items from Anderson’s estate are being auctioned off at the event. Paintings, diamonds, and expensive pieces of fur are just some of the things that Anderson is letting go.

    When asked about the most cherished item from the auction’s collection, Anderson pointed out her vintage wedding dress from her 1988 wedding. “It has all the romance and the tradition, and it was such a special day,” she said.

    Reynolds will have a separate auction at his Las Vegas estate a week after the auction at Julie’s. The actor will unload more than 600 personal items which includes his Golden Globe trophy that he got back in 1998 for his role in the film Boogie Nights.

  • Burt Reynolds on Auction: I Am Not Broke, Just Cleaning House

    When actor Burt Reynolds put up some of his possessions for auction recently, the first thing everyone thought was that the man was having money troubles.

    The auction site itself says of the items:

    “The auction includes Reynolds’ collection of Western themed decorative arts, screen-worn items, clothing from his personal wardrobe, signed items from co-stars and friends that were previously housed in Reynolds’ museum, and a selection of Reynolds trophies and awards.

    “The trophies earned by Reynolds date from his early football successes to his 1998 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Boogie Nights. These awards bookend countless People’s Choice Awards, an Emmy, another Golden Globe and other honors received over five decades.

    “The sale features wardrobe from Reynolds film career including a red “Bandit” jacket and an embroidered Western shirt from Smokey and the Bandit II, a sombrero worn in 100 Rifles, monogrammed boots worn in Striptease, a football helmet from the original Longest Yard, as well as personal clothing items and accessories.

    The online catalog detailing the items up for auction is 284 pages long.

    Some speculated that Reynolds divorce from Loni Anderson in 1993, as well as a bankruptcy and foreclosure, may have contributed to his auctioning the items. But Reynolds says this is not the case.

    “I want everyone to know that contrary to what all the news outlets are saying, I am not broke,” he said in a statement.

    “I have been dealing with a business dispute for many years as well as a divorce settlement,” he added. “I am simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore. Quite frankly, I am sick of so many pictures of myself in my own home.”

  • Vincent van Gogh Painting Goes For $62 Million, But Doesn’t Break Auction Record

    Not many people would be willing to spend millions of dollars on a painting, even if it was created by Vincent van Gogh.

    But a Chinese mogul opted to spend nearly $62 million dollars in a bid to make the unique artwork his own.

    The Vincent van Gogh painting in question called “Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies”.

    The painting is very much a van Gogh, as he had a very distinctive style.

    The masterpiece was created in 1890, in the home of his physician Dr. Paul Gache.

    It also has the distinction of being created weeks before Vincent van Gogh’s untimely death. Understandably, this fact increased its value tremendously.

    The van Gogh painting was one of the key items put up for auction by Sotheby’s in New York. Prior to the event, the artwork was said to be worth between 30 to $50 million.

    Amazingly, the van Gogh painting went for almost $12 million more than it was initially valued.

    Wang Zhongjun, one of the richest men in China, won the bidding war for the prized artwork with a bid of $61.8 million.

    He is the chairman of the influential Huayi Brothers film studio.

    Wang Zhongjun’s move to buy the van Gogh for more than the valued price could be the most spent by a Chinese collector of Western work. However, his bid is NOT the most ever spent on a Vincent van Gogh painting.

    As of now, the record bid for a van Gogh painting is $82.5 million.

    Although the wealthy businessman was no doubt pleased with his purchase, he had to endure quite a bit of criticism from the public.

    Certain Chinese citizens do not approve of such lavish spending, even going so far as to call it unpatriotic.

    Wang Zhongjun was criticized as a “mad man” and some have even wondered whether or not this is a sensible use of the money invested in his company.

    Still, the reaction over the van Gogh purchase is nothing compared to the controversy generated by a wealthy art collector named Liu Yiqian.

    Liu Yiqian not only spent an estimated $36 million on a rare Ming Dynasty wine cup, he then decided to drink from of it:

    The perceived desecration of a valuable artifact earned him quite a lot of backlash in China.

  • Adolf Hitler’s Personal Copy Of Mein Kampf Auctioned

    Adolf Hitler’s personal copy of Mein Kampf has been auctioned online.

    Mein Kampf, which translates to “My Struggle,” was written by Hitler while he spent time in prison in 1923 and was later published in 1925.

    The book, written eight years before Hitler took power of Germany, was basically a blueprint for his plans for Germany and exterminating the Jews and others that didn’t measure up to his ideal German. This particular copy was taken from Hitler’s Munich apartment by US Army 1st LT Joseph Ben Lieber in 1945.

    The auction was held by recurring Pawn Stars expert Craig Gottlieb and took place on Historyhunter.com. The auction ran from October 18 until November 1. “Mein Kampf is one of the most printed titles in the world,” Gottlieb explained in a news release. “There was a joke that everyone in Germany had a copy, but nobody read it because it was so badly written.”

    “This is not your run-of-the-mill copy of Mein Kampf,” he continued. “Obviously Hitler must have had multiple editions of his own book, but this one was in his Munich apartment and Hitler’s eyes almost certainly scanned its pages at some point.”

    “The chain of custody of the book is unbroken since 1945,” Gottlieb added. “This particular artifact is one of the most profound in the group, which makes the provenance that supports the artifact so crucial to its value.”

    In March, a signed copy of the book sold for $65,000, and a copy sold in England last year for $70,000. While Gottlieb had hoped that the book would bring in over $100,000, unfortunately it only sold for $28,400.

  • Ringo Starr Not In Rare Photos To Be Sold At Auction

    Pete Best was the original drummer for the Beatles. He was dismissed from the band on August 16, 1962. He was told it was because he wasn’t a good enough drummer. Whether or not that is true is a matter of much speculation and debate.

    We know that Best was replaced by Ringo Starr, and the rest as they say is history. Although it’s hard to imagine the Fab Four with anyone not named Paul, John, George, or Ringo, memorabilia from the brief two year period before Starr joined the band generates a lot of interest from collectors.

    One of the first photographs ever taken of The Beatles (without Ringo Starr) will be sold at auction. The extremely rare picture of the band playing at Liverpool’s Cavern Club was taken in 1961. It is just one of 330 lots to be auctioned off at The Annual Liverpool Beatles Auction at Paul McCartney Auditorium at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts on Saturday, August 23.

    The Ringo-less photo is part of a series of pictures of the band from the very beginning of their career. The snapshot features Paul sitting down at the front of the stage, John playing guitar on the right, George sitting down on an amp playing guitar on the left, and Pete Best playing the drums in the background.

    Stephen Bailey, who is the manager of The Beatles Shop in Liverpool, said a man named Mathew Street brought in the photograph along with a series of negatives. He stated, “My father was a professional photographer and these might be of interest to you.”

    All of the negatives were in perfect condition, including another picture of John, George, Paul, and Pete posing with six young girls. Bailey discovered that this particular picture was taken on June 14, 1961, at St. John’s Hall, Tuebrook, Liverpool. Bailey went a step further and was able to track down two of the girls from the photograph.

    The rare photographs are already generating a lot of buzz. “I am very excited about the auction. It just gets bigger and better every year,” said Bailey. He expects the photographs to bring in around 1,500 pounds (about $2,000 US.)

    Image via Wikimedia Commons


  • Bob Dylan’s Lyrics Shatter Sotheby’s Auction Record

    “How does it feel?”

    If you happen to know any famous or about-to-be-famous musicians, do them a favor and tell them to keep their handwritten song lyrics.

    Bob Dylan’s handwritten, working draft, original lyric sheet for the 1960s classic Like a Rolling Stone, just fetched over $2 million yesterday at Sotheby’s rock and roll auction. According to Sotheby’s, the multimillion dollar sale demolished the previous record of $1.2 million for music manuscripts, which was set in 2010 for John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for A Day in the Life .

    Like a Rolling Stone topped Rolling Stone magazine’s list as the greatest rock and roll song of all time. The 1965 tune appeared on Dylan’s album Highway 61 Revisited.

    Richard Austin, who is head of books and manuscripts at Sotheby’s and also a Dylan fan, said, “It is always pleasing to set the world record. It carried a strong estimate (up to $2 million) as well, and we felt the estimate was justified given the importance of the work.” He added, “I thought it was one of the coolest things that I have ever handled.”

    So who shelled out the cold hard cash? Right now, all we know is that it was sold to an anonymous private Dylan fan from California.

    Several different pieces of rock and roll memorabilia including instruments and awards were also auctioned off. One other interesting item of note was one of Elvis Presley’s signature jumpsuits. The lot featured a green and blue peacock, rhinestones, and gold lame on the front and back. The suit, from his later days in Vegas, still had sweat stains in the armpits. It was expected to sell for $100,000 – $200,000. However, apparently fans still love their King. The jumpsuit wound up selling for a very impressive $245,000.

    Sotheby’s used yesterday’s auction as a way to take the temperature of the current collector’s market, and to get a sense of what prospective buyers were willing to spend.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Wyatt Earp Gun And The Celeb Possession Obsession

    Wyatt Earp’s heater just sold for $225,000 at an auction.

    Thought to be the firearm from his gunfight at O.K. Corral, the boom town itinerant’s boomstick was ultimately bought by a New Mexican telephone bidder. Along with his newly acquired antique Colt .45, the purchaser will also receive a signed letter from the manufacturer that confirms the gun was used by Earp during the Corral shootout – or at least that it coincides with the time Earp was involved in the shootout.

    Eh…close enough.

    Celebrity auction items are ever intriguing – and in more modern times, the possession obsession has only amplified. While the stuff itself rarely holds any real value, it’s dumbfounding to witness the value some are willing to place on it.

    Sometimes it’s the owners themselves overestimating their fame – and value of their junk. Some fun examples of random cash-earning stuff has included: Gary Coleman’s sweatpants – which went for $500, Tila Tequila’s mammary cast – purchased at $110,000, and James Blunt’s… um…his sister?

    Obviously a joke, Blunt later clarified to GQ: ”The stupidest thing I’ve ever sold is my sister, on eBay… I was waiting for my first album to come out and ended up selling pretty much everything I owned on eBay. I had a mild addiction.”

    Indeed, it’s all fun and games until the dentist’s pliers get involved. Corey Haim once tried to get in on the auction action, overestimating the monetary merit of his own molars –which he had pulled and subsequently auctioned online. The bid began at $150 – and it ended there too – in a chorus of crickets. Now that the actor’s sadly passed away, I’m sure they’d go for more.

    (Jim’s notebook incidentally is up for auction if you’ve $300,000 to burn.)

    Take John Lennon, for example. His own dentin went for $30,000).

    What’s with this trinket craze? A study done by Yale University researchers George Newman and Paul Bloom looking into the estate auctions of celebrities observed exactly this. The psychological phenomenon, termed “the law of magical contagion” rests on a misconception that by acquiring something that once had contact with rockstar-status humans, the new owner might gain awesomeness by osmosis.

    Really? I’m no Tony Robbins, but if we truly want to emulate a next-level hero, doesn’t it make sense to do something more like… I dunno.. what they did to get there? Somehow I have trouble believing that Lennon morphed into a beacon of musical anthems about peace because of teeth – or that Wyatt kicked tail and took names for any other reason than good aim – gained from massive practice.

    You recreate admirable experiences from within.

    And I don’t mean from within a petri dish:

    Granted, Earp was a renaissance man of bad-assery. But whether it’s Scarlett Johannson’s tissue or a historical lawman’s weapon – it’s all just stuff . Even Mr. Earp would probably be face-palming about his own gun getting exchanged for such a crazy chunk of change (if nothing else than the fact that his celebrity status following the 30-second historical event displeased him in the first place).

    If so, Wyatt would have a good point. At the day’s end, it’s just a gun that belonged to a dead guy… who made some other guys prematurely dead by using it.

    (Supposedly.)

    Image via Youtube

  • Wyatt Earp Gun Sells For $225,000

    A gun, thought to have been carried by Wyatt Earp during the O.K. Corral shootout in Tombstone, sold at action for $225,000.

    On Thursday, J. Levine Auction & Appraisal announced that they would be having several of Earp’s items for sale at the auction block. Among those items was the Colt .45 revolver.

    The gun, purchased by a telephone bidder from New Mexico, was originally valued between $100,000 and $150,000, and came with a signed affidavit, signed in 1994, declaring its authenticity. There is also a signed letter from Colt stating that the make of the gun coincides with the time Earp was involved in the gunfight.

    The items, which also included his Winchester shotgun and his brother Vigil Earp’s revolver, were owned by the estate of Glenn Boyer, who died in February 2013. Boyer was an author from southern Arizona, who wrote several books about Earp.

    According to Earp’s biography, he was a “frontiersman, marshal, and a gambler,” who’s known for his legendary gunfight at Tombstone.

    Wyatt Earp was born March 19, 1848. One of the icons of the American West, he worked for the law and helped tame the wild cowboy culture that pervaded the frontier.

    In Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt got into a feud with a local rancher that resulted in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, perhaps the most famous gunfight in American history. Earp died in Los Angeles on January 13, 1929.

    All of Earp’s items, combined, brought in over $445,000.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Pontiac Silverdome Memorabilia to be Auctioned Off

    Pieces of the former home of the Detroit Lions will soon be auctioned off, as renovations of the Pontiac Silverdome get underway. Fans will have the opportunity to own seats, signs and even stadium urinals, by way of an auction being handled by Plymouth, Michigan-based RJM Auctions. The auction will be held between May 12-16, and a pre-auction is offering seats for sale, starting at $100 a pop.

    The Silverdome held 80,000 seats, and RJM Auctions facilities manager Jim Passeno has stated that every seat will be sold, pending buyer interest.

    The Silverdome opened in 1975, and is located in Pontiac, and spans 127 acres. It was once the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in Washington, D.C. opened in 1997. The Silverdome hosted the Detroit Lions of the NFL (1975–2001), the Detroit Pistons of the NBA (1978–1988) and four first-round games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

    During a winter storm, the dome was permanently damaged, as seen here:

    The Silverdome is presently owned by Triple Investment Group, and renovations plan for a permanent, self-supporting roof which includes solar panels.

    Potential buyers can order clusters of seats at the RJM Auction site here. One can have 4 adjoining Silverdome seats for $385, and for an extra $25, a certificate of authenticity would be included. The scoreboard will also be up for auction.

    Silverdome intrigue via Twitter:

    During its heyday, the Silverdome hosted Elvis, Led Zeppelin, Pope John Paul II, The Who, Pink Floyd and the Jackson 5. On March 29, 1987, the World Wrestling Federation’s WrestleMania III set the record attendance of 93,173, the largest recorded crowd for a live indoor sporting event in the U.S.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Muhammad Ali’s Legendary Gloves Sell for $836,500

    Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston to win his very first heavyweight title 50 years ago. Marking the special anniversary, his gloves from that fight were auctioned off on Saturday for $836,500, according to AFP.

    Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) was already an up and coming star when he fought Liston, after much taunting on his part. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, held in Rome, and went on to face Liston 4 years later.

    Liston was nothing to laugh at himself, as he had just managed back-to-back first round knockouts of the legendary Floyd Patterson.

    “Sonny Liston is nothing,” Clay said before the bout, according to CTV News. “The man can’t talk. The man can’t fight. The man needs talking lessons. The man needs boxing lessons. And since he’s going to fight me, he needs falling lessons.”

    After winning the historical fight with Liston, Clay emphatically jumped around the ring and yelled, “I shook up the world!”. The next day is when he announced his famous name change and his intent to follow the Islamic faith.

    Ali would go on for another whirlwind 3 years, defending his title again and again, making him the most famous boxer of all time. His showboating and antics also helped him stay in the public eye.

    His career hit a bump in the road when he refused to go into the Army, a refusal which cost him all of his titles and had him banned from fighting for almost four years. However, in 1971, the Supreme Court overturned that decision and he went on to win the title 2 more times.

    Also up for auction on Saturday were some other rare sports memorabilia including a pocket watch given to Babe Ruth to commemorate the 1923 World Series victory before rings became standard.

    “While a few 1923 Championship pocket watches have surfaced from lesser players and front office personnel, it was widely believed that Babe Ruth’s had been lost,” said Heritage Sports Collectibles director Chris Ivy.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Pope’s Harley Will Be Auctioned Off On Thursday

    We already know that Pope Francis is probably the most progressive Pope ever. He does have his own official Twitter page. But now you can add a little street-cred to the Pontiff’s resume as well. He owns a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It was a gift from Willie Davidson, grandson of the prestigious bike company’s co-founder. And because the Pope is obviously a charitable man, he has put the bike up for auction to benefit the Rome charity Caritas Roma (a soup kitchen and hostel.)

    The 2013 Pope-signed Dyna Super Glide and Papal leather jacket will be sold by the Bonham’s auction house in Paris. The bike is currently on display at the Grand Palais. Even though the actual sale isn’t until Thursday, as you can imagine, the Pope’s hog is already generating a ton of interest. Bonhams France spoke of the bike’s one-of-a-kind wow-factor. “Unsurprisingly, there is real interest. The sale of the Pope’s motorbike promises to be hotly contested. The result will no doubt live up to its first owner. The Papal signature, a first on a vehicle, makes this sale unique.”

    About 30 bids have already come in and many more are expected. They have all been well over the face value of the bike which is around $16,200 – $20,300. Of course, the final price would probably be a lot higher if the Pope actually rode the Harley. However, the chances of the 77-year-old ever taking the hog out for a spin around the Vatican are highly unlikely. In fact, the Pope used to prefer public transportation back in his days as a Cardinal and currently forgoes the lavishness of the Popemobile in favor of more affordable ways of getting around.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Bluefin Tuna Prices Plummet At Japan Auction

    Sushi restaurateur Kiyoshi Kimura was the top bidder of bluefin tuna in the year’s first tuna auction at Tsukiji market in Tokyo, Japan. The event normally draws very high bids given Japan’s insatiable appetite for the fish.

    Kimura paid a whopping 7.36 million yen (about 70,000 USD) for the 507-pound fish. However, that price pales in comparison to his record breaking winning bid last year. In 2013,  Kimura paid 154.4 million yen (about 1.7 million USD) for the 489-pound bluefin tuna.

    Though the demand for bluefin tuna is high both in Japan and worldwide the high bid is more a fight for status and does not translate into a profit for Kimura. The first purchase at the Tsukiji market is a mark of honor to the auction patrons. Kimura would need to sell the fish at a minimum of $345 a plate to break even, but Kimura admits it will only sell for about $4.60 per serving – a huge loss.

    The record breaking bid last year attracted a lot of criticism and complaints from Japan’s fish supplier industry. Many thought that the price of bluefin tuna had soared way out-of-control. Following this year’s relatively low bid, many are left wondering what it could mean for the industry but Kimura said that the bid had brought back sanity to the auction.

    “I’m glad that the congratulatory price for this year’s bid went back to being reasonable,” said Kimura.

    Environmentalists have already warned that the increasing global consumption of bluefin tuna will soon lead to its depletion and those who are supposed to take charge in managing the dwindling species are failing to protect it. Japan alone consumes about 80% of world’s bluefin tuna.

    Stocks of all the three bluefin species-the Southern, Pacific and Atlantic-have reduced over the past 15 years due to overfishing. Currently, the bluefin tuna population is at an all-time low of less than 4% of its unfished size. According to global conservation group, The Pew Environment Group, over 90% of the fish is caught before maturity.

    So far, very little has been done by governmental bodies to protect the species leaving many to have doubts about the sustainability of the bluefish tuna market.

    Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million In Japan

    http://youtu.be/f7nnkqjQw-o

    Image via YouTube

  • Kim Kardashian Defends Her eBay Auction

    Kim Kardashian Defends Her eBay Auction

    Last month, Kim Kardashian created an eBay auction and said that she would be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Philippine typhoon victims. What seemed like a sincere gesture quickly stirred controversy after it was reported that only ten percent of the earnings would be donated.

    She started out by explaining the auction on her personal website saying: “Hi guys, this is a very special auction because a portion of the proceeds of my eBay auction are going to International Medical Corps, which is a nonprofit organization that provides critical health services on remote islands where families are struggling to access medical care and basic resources like food, clean drinking water and vital medications.” “The proceeds will go directly to the communities they’re serving in the Philippines and will help typhoon survivors get access to medical care and ultimately save lives,” she continued. “My prayers and thoughts are with those affected by the typhoon. Check out my eBay auction here and support those who need our help in the Philippines. Xo”

    When the public found out that only ten percent would be donated, they were outraged. It’s no secret that Kardashian is a multi-millionaire, so the question was… Why not donate more? After thousands of remarks came in about her auction, Kardashian decided to defend her decision to only donate ten percent and explain that she is always donated to different charities and doesn’t appreciate the negativity.

    “I feel compelled to speak about something that is in my head and my heart,” she wrote. “Over the years, I’ve had to grow a thick skin. Being in the public eye, there are times I feel like I get criticized for any and everything I do. I’m used to it now. I just choose not to feed into negativity or become consumed by it.”

    Kardashian continued saying that she was taught to give back at an early age by her father, the late Robert Kardashian. “The problem comes in when I get attacked for giving and trying to help people. My dad always taught me the importance of giving back,” she explained. “I don’t publicize everything I do to help charities and people all over the world. I do it because I want to. I do it because my dad taught me to. I do it because it’s the right thing to do. So for people to attack me for giving 10% of my eBay auction sales to the people of the Philippines, that hurts.”

    She went on to explain how the numbers are broken down when she decides to use an eBay auction to promote a charity. “In regards to these eBay auctions, when the eBay numbers get broken down, the auction management agency that posts for me gets a percentage for all of their hard work, then eBay listing fees, end of auction fees, eBay Store fees, Paypal fees, etc., all add up to about half of the sale,” she explained. “Then I give 10% to a charity. Truth is how the # is broken down, is neither here nor there. The people of the Philippines need all of our help, no matter how big or small.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maltese Falcon Statue Sells for $4 Million

    Maltese Falcon Statue Sells for $4 Million

    The bird statue used as a prop in the 1941 film noir “The Maltese Falcon” sold for a record $4 million on Monday, during an auction of famous movie props and memorabilia.

    “The Maltese Falcon” was directed by John Huston, and stars Humphrey Bogart as womanizing private investigator Sam Spade, and Mary Astor as his “femme fatale” client. The Warner Bros.-produced film, based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett, is considered to be highly influential in the genre of film noir, which is a highly stylized crime drama, typically involving bad attitudes and sexual motivations.

    Also sold during the Bonhams New York-hosted auction, which netted over $6 million, was the Buick from “Casablanca,” as well as costumes worn by Viven Leigh, Clark Gable, Bette Davis and Cary Grant.

    Check out the 1941 trailer:

    The Maltese Falcon statue itself netted $4,085,000. Dr. Catherine Williamson, director of entertainment memorabilia for Bonhams New York, commented, “The spectacular price achieved reflects the statuette’s tremendous significance. The Maltese Falcon is arguably the most important movie prop ever, and is central to the history of cinema.” The auction was the first sale held after a partnership between Bonhams and Turner Classic Movies.

    The introductory text of “The Maltese Falcon,” appearing after the film’s opening credits reads:

    In 1539 the Knight Templars of Malta, paid tribute to Charles V of Spain, by sending him a Golden Falcon encrusted from beak to claw with rarest jewels, but pirates seized the galley carrying this priceless token and the fate of the Maltese Falcon remains a mystery to this day.

    The story then follows Bogart as a private detective, and his dealings with three unscrupulous treasure hunters, all of whom are competing to acquire a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette.”The Maltese Falcon” has been repeatedly named as one of the greatest films of all time, and was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1989.

    Incidentally, for any Boardwalk Empire fans reading, the character Richard Harrow, who is played by British actor Jack Huston, who is the nephew of Angelica Huston, who is the daughter of “The Maltese Falcon” director John Huston, may or may not die at the end of the season 4 finale. Small world.

    “Boardwalk Empire’s” Richard Harrow, with hobos in the woods:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Mazeroski Memorabilia Sold for More Than $1.7 M

    77-year old William Mazeroski played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1956 to 1972, as one of the greatest second-basemen to play the game, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Therefore, it isn’t difficult to believe that his memorabilia was sold for more than $1.7 million at the 10th Annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Live Auction in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, November 9, 2013. The auction was also hosted in partnership with Hunt Auctions, which is a company dedicated toward sports memorabilia auctions throughout the country. “Bill’s legacy as one of the greatest players in Pittsburgh Pirates history coupled with the iconic status of his legendary 1960 World Series home run served as an appropriate foundation for the incredible prices realized at the auction,” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions based in Exton, Pennsylvania.

    According to Hunt Auctions, the collection took in $1.7 million, with Mazeroski’s uniform raking in $632,500. Mazeroski was wearing the uniform when he hit a walk-off home-run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Pirates, in the final game of the 1960 World Series. The Pirates won the championship against the New York Yankees. Mazeroski and the Pirates also won a championship against the Baltimore Orioles in 1971 during another seven-game series.

    At the auction, his bronzed bat was sold for $322,000 and a set of his bronzed cleats for $97,750, both also used during the last game of the 1960 World Series. Mazeroski also received eight Gold Glove Awards in 1958, 1960, 1961, and from 1963 through 1967, six of which were sold for a total of $193,775. Other items that were auctioned include a bat given to Mazeroski by Roberto Clemente and his 1960 Bath Ruth Award, for $86,250 and $41,400 respectively.

    “I was completely overwhelmed and humbled by the auction of my sports memorabilia collection that I witnessed. I had no idea the tremendous value of these treasures I have held on to all these years,” said Mazeroski.

    There was one other time when a home-run ended a World Series, but Mazeroski’s home-run is the only one to win a World Series in Game Seven.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Titanic Violin Sells for Record $1.5 Million

    The violin played by band leader Wallace Hartley as the RMS Titanic sank was sold for $1.46 million at auction on Saturday, the highest price ever paid for a relic from the ill-fated ocean liner.

    Hartley and his band played “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” as passengers scrambled for lifeboats during Titanic’s doomed maiden voyage in 1912. The band sank with the ship, along with about 1,500 others.

    Renowned scientist Weird Al Yankovic imagines on YouTube the mournful moments Titanic passengers faced, as their ship sank. A simulacrum of the violin just sold is featured in the clip:

    Apparently, the violin was found in a leather case strapped to Hartley’s body, after it was recovered 10 days after the ship went down. A silver plate on the German-made instrument is engraved “For WALLACE on the occasion of our ENGAGEMENT, from MARIA.” It was auctioned by Henry Aldridge and Son, with a guide price of roughly $485,000.

    The violin was returned to Hartley’s fiancée Maria Robinson in England, and was eventually donated to the Salvation Army after Robinson passed away in 1939. The violin in turn ended up in the hands of the owner at the time of the auction, who hasn’t been identified.

    Chrissie Aldridge, called the sale a record, and identified the buyer as “A British collector.” The violin was rediscovered in 2006, and it took experts a while to authentic it. About 300,000 people viewed it during its exhibition in the U.S.

    Below is a less accurate rendering of violin in use as the Titanic sank, as seen in James Cameron’s 1997 box-office flop, “Titanic,” which can now be seen on Netflix.

    Before the auction of the violin, the highest price paid for a piece of Titanic memorabilia was $355,500 in 2011, for a plan of the ship used in a 1912 inquiry into the sinking.

    Image via YouTube.