Weirdest things sold at auction for millions
South Africans are no strangers to weird things showing up for sale on online auction houses – but you’d be hard-pressed to find an entire town up for grabs.
There are a number of absolutely bizarre items up for grabs via auction across the globe – online or under the hammer – and some of these items can fetch a staggering amount of money, as confusing as it may seem.
Here are 7 strange or unexpected items that have been sold at auction for a really large some of money.
Original Hollywood sign fetches $450,400
Did you know the world-famous Hollywood sign currently gawked at by tourists isn’t even the original?
The original sign was auctioned off in 2005 for $450,400, after its previous owner needed some cash for another Hollywood project.
The sign was replaced in 1978.
Woman sells her virginity online – gets bids up to $800,000 and backs out
A medical student, who identified herself as ‘Elizabeth Raine’, grabbed ehadlines in 2014 after announcing she would be auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder.
This was in an attempt to service her medical tuition fees.
The auction itself was cancelled after it hit $800,000 – not because of any policy issue with eBay, but rather because Raine decided to end it.
American towns for sale fetch as much as $1.7 million
That’s right, an entire town was sold on eBay – though perhaps “town” is a misnomer.
Albert, Texas had a peak population of 50 people in 1925 – and by 2000 that halved, before being left with only 4 people at the time of sale in 2007.
The town was put up for auction with a pricetag of $2.5 million, but was eventually sold for $1 million (in 2015 dollars) in 2009.
Similarly, the town of Bridgeville, California, was also sold on eBay for around $1.7 million.
Violin fetches $1.7 million because it was played while the Titanic sank
A violin belonging to Wallace Hartley, band leader on the Titanic, fetched $1.7 million at auction in 2013.
Hartley led a band of 8 people, who played, calming passengers as the ship sank in 1912.
Two weeks after the ship sank, Hartley’s body was found – fully dressed with his music case strapped to his body.
First edition comic fetches $3.2 million – is the first to feature Superman
A ‘pristine’ copy of Action Comics number 1 from June 1938 belonging to actor Nicolas Cage sold for a record $3.2 million in 2011.
The comic was the first to feature Superman – arguably the most recognisable superhero in the world.
17th Century Persian rug fetches $33.7 million because it has a rare design
Persian rugs are known to be some of the most expensive carpets in the world, going for tens of thousands of dollars.
In 2005, an anonymous bidder in New York bought a 17th century rug for $33.7 million at auction – making it the most expensive carpet ever sold.
According to the auction house, the carpet’s rarity is due to the pattern, which is the only one of its kind on a red background.
Orange balloon dog sculpture fetches $58.4 million, because it’s art
American artist Jeff Koons is known for his bizarre balloon-inspired art pieces.
The works are made from stainless steel and look like giant balloon animals in various striking colours.
In 2013, Koons’ Orange Balloon Dog sold for just under $60 million, making it “the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction,” according to the New York Times.
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