![\"Hollywood\"](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Hollywood.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDid you know the world-famous Hollywood sign currently gawked at by tourists isn’t even the original?<\/p>\n
The original sign was auctioned off in 2005 for $450,400, after its previous owner needed some cash for another Hollywood project.<\/p>\n
The sign was replaced in 1978.<\/p>\n
Woman sells her virginity online – gets bids up to $800,000 and backs out<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n This was in an attempt to service her medical tuition fees.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n That’s right, an entire town was sold on eBay – though perhaps “town” is a misnomer.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Similarly, the town of Bridgeville, California, was also sold on eBay for around $1.7 million.<\/p>\n A violin belonging to Wallace Hartley, band leader on the Titanic, fetched $1.7 million at auction in 2013.<\/p>\n Hartley led a band of 8 people, who played, calming passengers as the ship sank in 1912.<\/p>\n Two weeks after the ship sank, Hartley’s body was found – fully dressed with his music case strapped to his body.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The comic was the first to feature Superman – arguably the most recognisable superhero in the world.<\/p>\n Persian rugs are known to be some of the most expensive carpets in the world, going for tens of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n American artist Jeff Koons is known for his bizarre balloon-inspired art pieces.<\/p>\n The works are made from stainless steel and look like giant balloon animals in various striking colours.<\/p>\n In 2013, Koons’ Orange Balloon Dog sold for just under $60 million, making it \u201cthe most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction,\u201d according to the New York Times.<\/p>\n South African artwork fetches R48 million at auction<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n How SA woman tried to sell a baby on Gumtree<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nAmerican towns for sale fetch as much as $1.7 million<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nViolin fetches $1.7 million because it was played while the Titanic sank<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFirst edition comic fetches $3.2 million – is the first to feature Superman<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n17th Century Persian rug fetches $33.7 million because it has\u00a0a rare design<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nOrange balloon dog sculpture fetches $58.4 million, because it’s art<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nMore on Auctions<\/h3>\n