INDIANAPOLIS — More than 300 pieces from the late Jim Irsay’s vast souvenir collection are heading to auction next month, with estimates suggesting the most prized items could fetch up to $39.9 million.
Christie’s will conduct a series of sales in New York beginning Thursday, March 12, including a “Hall of Fame” auction featuring 44 top-tier artifacts valued collectively between $22.4 million and $39.9 million. Online bidding will run Tuesday, March 3 to Tuesday, March 17, alongside additional live auctions focused on pop culture and music.
Among the headline items is the 1969 Fender Mustang played by Kurt Cobain in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video, estimated at $2.5 million to $5 million. The collection also includes instruments and memorabilia linked to Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Prince and all four members of The Beatles.
Sports artifacts are also featured, including the saddle used when Secretariat won the 1973 Triple Crown and a robe worn by Muhammad Ali before a 1965 bout against Sonny Liston…