When the economic recovery has occurred around the world, many big buyers paid record-breaking prices for a number of items from a jersey worn by Canadian player Paul Henderson to a rare Barbie designed by famed jewelry designer Stefano Canturi. Now, let's take a look at top ten record-breaking purchases in 2010-2011.
The 1972 Summit Series Jersey Worn by Canadian Player Paul Henderson
A famed jersey worn by Paul Henderson as he scored Canada’s winning goal in the Summit Series against the Soviet Union in 1972 was purchased by Mitchell Goldhar of Toronto for $1.07 million at a month-long auction sponsored by Classic Collections in June 2010. The buyer, who owns a private real estate development company and is one of Canada's richest men, sent the item on a cross-country tour shortly after winning it.
The jersey is the world’s most expensive sports uniform
A Pedigreed Belgian Racing Pigeon
A pedigreed Belgian racing pigeon called Blue Prince was purchased by a Chinese buyer for $200,000 at an auction in January 2011. A flock of 218 pigeons were also sold for $1.8 million at the same auction.
The Blue Prince is the most expensive racing pigeon ever sold
An Original Apple-1 Computer
Italian businessman Marco Boglione spent $219,249 buying the vintage Apple-1 motherboard and its accessories at a Christie's auction in November 2010. The computer came with a signed letter from Steve Jobs that he would answer any technical questions about the machine.
This vintage Apple-1 motherboard is the most expensive personal computer ever sold at auction
A Rare Barbie
Designed by famed jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, the Barbie doll was sold at a Christie's charity auction for $302,500 to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in October 2010. The Barbie is draped in jewels, including a necklace made from three carats of white diamonds set around a one-carat, square, emerald-cut pink diamond.
It is the world’s most expensive Barbie doll
Andy Warhol's "Mao"
An investment banker and art collector Ahmet Khan bought the screen print of a blue-faced Mao by Andy Warhol for $302,500 at a Christie's auction in January, 2011. Once owned by Dennis Hopper, the painting was originally estimated $30,000.
The painting was sold six times more than its expected price
A Nine-Pound Gold Nugget
On behalf of an anonymous buyer, a collectibles firm bought the gold nugget that was believed to be the biggest California nugget in existence with the price of $460,000 at a Holabird-Kagin Americana auction in March 2011. It was sold three times more than its actual value.
The nine-pound gold nugget was found in early 2010 on a parcel of land in Nevada, California
A Roman Gold Coin from A.D. 308
A Roman gold coin from A.D. 308 was purchased in April 2010 for $1.4 million and became the most expensive ever sold at an auction. It is one of only two known left in world and is in extremely good condition for its age.
An image of the Roman gold coin
A Red Tibetan Mastiff
A Chinese coal baron millionaire spent $1.6 million buying a red Tibetan Mastiff called Big Splash in March 2011. The Tibetan Mastiff is one of the world's oldest breeds and has recently become a new status symbol for the ultra-rich in China. Big Splash broke the previous record for the most expensive dog, another Mastiff, with selling price of more than $600,000.
Big Splash is the most expensive dog ever sold
A 1923 Leica Camera
An anonymous Asian bidder spent a record-breaking $1.89 million buying a vintage Leica 0-series camera, one of 25 prototypes made in 1923, at the WestLicht auction in May 2011. Its final price was four times more than the pre-sale estimate.
The 1923 Leica camera is the world’s most expensive camera
A Rare Pair of "Melon" Teapots
A rare pair of “Melon” teapots that was believed to come from 18th century in China was purchased by a Chinese buyer for $2.18 million at a Bonhams auction in May 2011. Each of the teapot was glued with an iron-red Qianlong seal mark. The antique items were once owned by a Scottish collector for more than 50 years, but didn’t realize their value.
They are the most expensive teapots ever sold
Apple-1 Computer: One of Top Ten Record-Breaking Purchases in 2010-2011
Related links:
Top Ten Extravagant Purchases in June, 2011
Top Ten Record-Breaking Purchases in 2010 - 2011