A 285-year-old lemon was auctioned off for a “bit of fun” on Jan. 16 and ended up selling for close to $1,800.
Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers in Newport, England, put an old lemon up for auction, and to their surprise, it fetched £1,416 ($1,787.78), according to the New York Post. The piece of fruit from 1739 was found in the back of a 19th-century cabinet, which Brettells also put up for auction, though it only sold for around $40, the outlet noted.
A 285-year-old lemon was sold at auction in the UK
The lemon was found in a cupboard of the XIX century. The head of the auction house suggested that the citrus is a gift brought from colonial India. It bears the inscription: “Presented by Mr. P. Lou Franchini on November 4,… pic.twitter.com/cCoYfcNHPG
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The valuable lemon was discovered by a specialist taking photos of the cabinet for the auction, according to The Sun. A message inscribed on the lemon read, “Given by Mr P Lu Franchini Nov 4 1739 to Miss E Baxter.” It is thought the lemon was brought from colonial India as a romantic gift, the outlet reported.
“We thought we’d have a bit of fun and put it in the auction with an estimate of £40-£60,” Auctioneer David Brettell said, according to The Sun. (RELATED: Harrison Ford’s Incomplete Star Wars Script To Be Auctioned In London: REPORT)
Instead, a bidding war broke out, driving the price up to £1,100 plus fees.
That might seem high, but everything has its price. You can’t expect life to just *give* you lemons.