A highly-prized collection of Sir Elton John memorabilia which is being sold by his mother is generating global interest from buyers, according to auctioneers.
The treasure trove includes more than 100 gold and platinum discs, tour jackets and VIP passes his mother, Sheila Farebrother, used for backstage access at his concerts.
Two multi-platinum discs marking the success of Candle In The Wind, which recorded more than 33 million sales when it was re-released in tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, are being sold.
There are also two platinum discs for the first million sales of the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, plus items from Bob Halley, the musician’s manager for more than 30 years.
Auctioneers say the collection is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for fans and collectors to own a piece of the “Rocket Man”’s flamboyant life.
Among the 227 items from Sir Elton are four silk Versace stage suits that he wore on tour and artwork by Sam Taylor-Wood which featured on the sleeve of his album, Songs from the West Coast.
But the highlight of the sale is said to be two sets of framed discs commemorating the 63-year-old musician’s 43 million record sales in the US.
Also being sold is a diamond-studded Theo Fennell crucifix worth up to £3,000 which was given to Mr Halley by Sir Elton as a birthday gift and signed: To Bob, Happy Birthday, Love Elton.
Ms Farebrother is selling the collection at Gorringes Auctioneers in Lewes, East Sussex, on October 19 as she has downsized to a new home on the south coast.
She said: “From an early age Elton would love to perform at family weddings and birthdays.
“When his career as a performer began to take off I would go along to his concerts and my main concern was that he wouldn’t forget any of his lyrics.
“It wasn’t until the concert in Madison Square Garden in 1974 when John Lennon made an appearance on stage and sang with Elton that I realised he had become a world superstar.”
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on March 25, 1947, Sir Elton has sold more than 250 million records in a career spanning five decades.
His career has marked him out as one of the world’s most successful musicians, and his accolades include an Oscar and Grammy awards.
He established the Elton John Aids Foundation in 1992 and went on to be knighted in 1998. He celebrated his civil partnership with David Furnish in 2005 at Windsor Guildhall.
He has toured all over the world during his career, including Malta where he performed twice – in 2003 and last Sunday.