$32,500 for ID bracelet?

NEW YORK --- James Brown's personal belongings fetched more than four times the amount trustees had expected to raise in a Thursday auction, allowing the $400,000 in debt on Mr. Brown's estate to be paid off, with money left over.

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Nick Needham/Staff

More than 80 people attended the auction that sold 317 of Mr. Brown's items.

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James Brown Medical Bracelet

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James Brown USA jacket

The auction brought in more than $850,000, including royalties to Christie's. After royalties are paid, the difference in money raised goes to the James Brown estate. Although Christie's didn't comment on its royalty figure, citing a private contract, a comparison of the final bidding price and the final purchase price on several items showed the auction house making roughly 20 percent.

The auction, held by Christie's at Rockefeller Center, brought in people of all ages and backgrounds. Several of Mr. Brown's children showed up, not to bid on the collection, but to show their dismay over the decision to sell off their father's possessions.

Perhaps one of Mr. Brown's greatest achievements, his Grammy for the hit single Living in America, was pulled from the auction block just as it was coming up for bidding.

The auctioneer said it was unclear why the award had been pulled, but Sara Fox, a spokeswoman for the auction house, later said it was taken out at the request of the estate.

Paul Shaffer, the colorful music director of The Late Show with David Letterman, paid $32,500 for Mr. Brown's medical ID bracelet, which said he was a diabetic and allergic to penicillin. A black satin cape, with Mr. Brown's signature embroidered in the collar, fetched the highest bid, going for $47,000. Mr. Brown's red leather furniture suite followed a close second at $40,000.

More than 80 people filled the room, some standing along the walls to watch the bidding. Bidding was possible either in person, over the phone or live on the Internet.

Personal items seemed to draw the highest interest and bids. When one of Mr. Brown's belts with a buckle inscribed with the title "sex machine" was introduced, the auctioneer noted, "I've been waiting my whole career just to say that."

Mr. Brown's hair supplies went for roughly $5,000, and a set of 10 pairs of shoes sold for $15,000.

Of the 329 items up for bid, 317 were sold during the auction, including a James Brown Boulevard award from the city of Augusta.

One Columbia County couple described their winning bid in the auction as "Christmas in July."

Meg Thompson-Webb successfully bid $250 for a blue-denim jumpsuit once owned by Mr. Brown.

"He grew up loving Mr. Brown's music," Ms. Thompson-Webb said of her husband, Byron Webb. "And, regardless of his personal problems, Byron has always liked the way JB took care of everyone around him -- the giveaways for the children -- everything," she said.

Mr. Webb, a Marietta, Ga., native, said owning a piece of the late entertainer's clothing is more than an honor.

"It's like I'm owning a piece of history -- a legend on the status of Elvis Presley."

Staff writer Timothy Cox contributed to this story.

Reach Nick Needham at (706) 724-0851, or nicholas.needham@augustachronicle.com.