Truman Capote’s ashes sold for nearly $50k in world first
The iconic gay author is set to continue his travels across the world.
Truman Capote’s life was full of excitement and scandal – and it seems his death is no less colourful.
Just last weekend, the iconic author’s ashes were auctioned off in Los Angeles auction – fetching an impressive $45,000 (£34,751.7).
The anonymous new owner also promised to keep to Capote’s last wishes – meaning he’ll be accompanying them on their adventures.
“He asked Joanne Carson before he passed – he told her he didn’t want to sit on a shelf,” auctioneer Darren Julien told CNN.
“This is definitely right in line with his wishes.”
According to Mr Julien – who runs Julien’s Auctions in LA – this is the first time in history that a person’s ashes have been publicly auctioned off.
“If it wasn’t for it being Truman Capote, it would have been disrespectful,” Julien said.
The ashes were left to Capote’s best friend Joanne Carson.
He often stayed with Carson in her Bel-Air mansion – in which he had a studio and eventually died from liver failure in 1984.
Julien said that although he expected a lot of interest in the sale he had no idea how much he would eventually get, with the starting price originally set at just $2,000 (£1,544.52).
“We had people from Russia, Germany, China, South America and here in the US who had interest in them,” Julien said.
“I anticipated it could sell for over $10,000, but didn’t anticipate it going to $45,000.”
Last week, the original court documents from the ‘gross indecency’ case that led to Alan Turing’s downfall were made available for public viewing.
Cheshire Pride has collaborated with historians to make the documents available in Chester Town Hall – close to where the trial took place.
A book of commemoration next to the display allows the public to share their thoughts and feelings about the issues faced by Turing and the LGBT community – both in the past and today.
