Cowardly Lion costume sells for $3M

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The costume of the Cowardly Lion from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz sold at auction Monday for $3.1 million.

The costume was auctioned at Bonhams auction house by Los Angeles TV museum founder James Comisar for $3,077,000 including a buyer's premium of $477,000. He said he bought the costume when someone responded to an ad saying, "Wanted: Ruby slippers"

From a garbage bag to $2.6 million, it was a magical journey," said Comisar.

The Cowardly Lion was played by Bert Lahr and the costume is believed to be the only one worn by him during the shooting. it is also made of real lions fur.

The costume joined props from famed movies including Casablanca. The piano Humphrey Bogart played in the film was auctioned for $3,413,000 with a buyer's premium of $513,000.