Although the first auctions were held somewhere around 500BC, personalities still flock and are mesmerised with the tradition of bidding antiques for owning a part of history or popular lore for themselves, is a rare opportunity. For instance, it was celebrity couple Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao who bought Shammi Kapoor’s famous brown jacket for Rs 88,000. Worn in the film, Kashmir Ki Kali, the changing of hands of the iconic jacket definitely made the headlines.

A chromolithograph that depicts a market place around Bhuleshwar-Kalbadevi area by noted German traveller and watercolourist Eduard Hildebrandt (1817-1869)

Last week, the city witnessed an intriguing auction where items that are also focussed upon here, “the Sholay coin, a handwritten and autographed letter by Mahatma” were sold at alluring prices (the coin went for Rs 26,000). Building on that, we found out rarities such as the Bomb coin, an autographed cricket bat and more from three major auction houses — Rajgor’s, Osian’s and Todywalla’s. Those interested can make the bids online and through SMS.