Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own | Crazy Little Things 2

Mick Rock Killer Queen. Guildford: Genesis Publications, 2003 number 9 of 2500 copies signed by Brian May, Mick Rock & Roger Taylor, some leaves printed on coloured paper, photographic illustrations by Mick Rock, some colour, original morocco-backed black & white cloth, g.e., original pictorial cloth drop-back box SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2339: Mick Rock | Killer Queen, limited edition, no. 9 of 2,500 copies, signed by Rock, Taylor and May, 2003

mick rock | killer queen, limited edition, no. 9 of 2,500 copies, signed by rock, taylor and may, 2003

Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own | On Stage

Mick Rock 11 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1970s 11 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.5cm), stamped by Mick Rock's studio to reverse, slightly bowed Featuring the black wrap top with yellow diamanté, lot 39; the burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133; the yellow and black embroidered jacket, lot 148; and the black satin jacket, lot 167. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 125: Mick Rock | 11 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1970s

mick rock | 11 photographs of freddie mercury, 1970s

Rock & Roll

Mick Rock Portrait of David Bowie, ca. 1973 Photographic print (355 x 276 mm) of David Bowie, signed ("Mick Rock") in the lower margin. A fine portrait of a young Bowie, signed by Bowie's official photographer and longtime creative partner, the legendary Mick Rock.

View 1 of Lot 72: Mick Rock | Portrait of David Bowie

mick rock | portrait of david bowie

Mick Rock 4 photographs of Queen, c.1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's Studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed This group includes the iconic Queen II album cover and a photograph of Freddie with Mick. Featuring the black wrap top with yellow diamanté, lot 39, the burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133 and the black and white zig zag scarf, lot 126. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2005: Mick Rock | 4 photographs, c.1974

mick rock | 4 photographs, c.1974

Mick Rock 5 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed This photoshoot of Freddie in the burgundy red velvet jacket, lot 133, took place at the flat he shared with Mary Austin at 100 Holland Road, W14. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2032: Mick Rock | 5 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

mick rock | 5 photographs of freddie mercury, 1974

Made in Britain

Mick Rock 1948 - 2021 Dude '72 pigment print, signed and editioned '12/25' in ink in the margin, 1972, printed later image: 95.2 by 66.2 cm (37½ by 26⅛ in.)

dude '72

Mick Rock 7 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's Studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed This photoshoot took place in 1974. The domestic shots were taken at Freddie and Mary's flat at 100 Holland Road, W14. Featuring the burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133; the yellow and black embroidered jacket, lot 148. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2018: Mick Rock | 7 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

mick rock | 7 photographs of freddie mercury, 1974

Mick Rock b.1948 Bowie by Window, 1972 Chromogenic print, printed 2003. Signed and numbered 12/90 in pencil in the lower margin. Titled, dated and annotated in pencil on the verso. Matted and framed. image: 31.7 by 48.2cm.; 12 1/2 by 19in. sheet: 40.3 by 50.4cm.; 16 by 20in.

bowie by window, 1972

Mick Rock 10 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20. 4cm), stamped by Mick Rock's studio to reverse, slightly bowed Featuring the black velvet jacket, lot 41; burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133; yellow embroidered jacket, lot 148; and white platform shoes, lot 149. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 127: Mick Rock | 10 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

mick rock | 10 photographs of freddie mercury, 1974

Mick Rock 2 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1970s gelatin silver prints (25.3 x 20.4cm), stamp of Mick Rock's studio to reverse, slightly bowed Featuring the yellow and black embroidered jacket, lot 148. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2022: Mick Rock | 2 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1970s

mick rock | 2 photographs of freddie mercury, 1970s

Mick Rock 6 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's Studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed The interior of Freddie's flat at 100 Holland Road can be seen in these shots. Featuring the burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133; the yellow and black embroidered jacket, lot 148. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2020: Mick Rock | 6 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

mick rock | 6 photographs of freddie mercury, 1974

Mick Rock 4 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's Studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed This photoshoot took place in 1974. Featuring the burgundy velvet jacket, lot 133; the yellow and black embroidered jacket, lot 148. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2019: Mick Rock | 4 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

mick rock | 4 photographs of freddie mercury, 1974

Mick Rock Killer Queen. Guildford: Genesis Publications, 2003 one of 2500 copies signed by Brian May, Mick Rock & Roger Taylor, some leaves printed on coloured paper, photographic illustrations by Mick Rock, some colour, original morocco-backed black & white cloth, g.e., original pictorial cloth drop-back box SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2338: Mick Rock | Killer Queen, limited edition, one of 2,500 copies, signed by Rock, Taylor and May, 2003

mick rock | killer queen, limited edition, one of 2,500 copies, signed by rock, taylor and may, 2003

MICK ROCK b. 1948 DAVID BOWIE AND MICK RONSON, LUNCH ON TRAIN TO ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, 1973 Silver print, printed 2003. Signed and editioned 31/90 in pencil in the margin. Signed, titled and dated in pencil on the verso. Matted and framed. image: 31 by 46.1cm.; 12¼by 18⅛in. sheet: 40.5 by 50.5cm.; 16 by 20in.

mick rock | david bowie and mick ronson, lunch on train to aberdeen, scotland, 1973

Mick Rock 6 photographs of Freddie Mercury including one duplicate, 1974 gelatin silver prints (25.4 x 20.4cm), Mick Rock's studio stamp to reverse, slightly bowed This photoshoot of Freddie in the burgundy red velvet jacket, lot 133, took place at the flat he shared with Mary Austin at 100 Holland Road, W14. SPECIAL NOTICE This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 2031: Mick Rock | 6 photographs of Freddie Mercury, 1974

Mick Rock b. 1948 Lou Reed, 'Transformer', 1972 Silver print, printed 2001. Signed and numbered 51/90 in pencil in the lower margin. Titled, dated and annotated in pencil on the verso. Matted. image: 31 by 21.3cm.; 12 1/8 by 8 3/8 in. sheet: 35.4 by 27.8cm.; 14 by 11in.

lou reed, 'transformer', 1972

Important Photographs from the Peter Fetterman Collection

Important Photographs from the Peter Fetterman Collection Mick Rock b. 1948 David Bowie, Retirement Gig, Hammersmith Odeon, 1973 Pigment print, printed later. Signed and numbered 14/90 in black ink in the lower margin. Matted. (unframed) image: 45.7 by 30.5 cm.; 18 by 12in. sheet: 40.6 by 50.8 cm; 20 by 16in.

View 1 of Lot 137: David Bowie, Retirement Gig, Hammersmith Odeon, 1973

david bowie, retirement gig, hammersmith odeon, 1973

Mick Rock Photographic portrait of Peter Gabriel, ca. 1973 Photographic print (610 x 508 mm) of Peter Gabriel, signed ("Mick Rock") and editioned ("3/95") in black ink in lower margin; faint stain to lower right. A large photographic portrait of Peter Gabriel in mask, signed by Mick Rock. Often referred to as "The Man Who Shot the Seventies," Mick Rock photographed rock music acts such as Queen, David Bowie, Lou Reed, The Sex Pistols, Blondie, and here, Peter Gabriel, the original lead singer of Genesis.

View 1 of Lot 80: Mick Rock | Photographic portrait of Peter Gabriel

mick rock | photographic portrait of peter gabriel

Important Photographs from the Peter Fetterman Collection Mick Rock b. 1948 Lou Reed, 'Transformer', 1972 Silver print, printed later. Signed and numbered 14/25 in black crayon in the lower margin. Matted. (unframed) image: 46.7 by 31.5cm.; 18⅜ by 12½in. sheet: 50.8 by 40.6 cm; 20 by 16 in.

View 1 of Lot 134: Lou Reed, 'Transformer', 1972

ROCK STYLE Curated by Tommy Hilfiger and Jeffrey Deitch S2 Exhibition 4

david bowie in mirror, haddon hall, uk 1972

david bowie and mick ronson, lunch on train to aberdeen, uk 1973

lenny kravitz, chelsea hotel, nyc, 2014

david bowie "life on mars", london 1973

Rock n Roll Sale

oversized digital pigment photograph, signed and editioned 'AP 1/3' by the photographer in pencil in the margin, framed, 1972, printed later 

iggy pop (raw power)

Aboriginal Art

kangaroos sleeping, grass in the rocks

Photographs

oversized digital pigment print, signed and editioned '1/10' in pencil in the margin, framed, a Govinda Gallery, Washington, D. C., label on the reverse, 1973, printed later

david bowie - saxophone session

marnpi rockhole

Freddie Mercury’s silver choker worn c.1973 - 1975 A snake coil silver choker with tongue curved box clasp, with European hallmark– approx. 14 cm. diam. fastened, approx. 41 cm. long fastened This favourite choker of Freddie’s was worn both on and off stage, with many items of clothing included in this auction, from around 1973 until around 1975. It was Freddie’s preferred accessory for many key occasions including the famous photoshoots with Mick Rock in 1973 and 1974, reproduced in the ‘Killer Queen’ limited edition book (lots 2338-39), some of the original prints from which are included in this auction. A photograph from one of these shoots in 1974 was used on the inside gatefold sleeve of A Night At The Opera’, with Freddie wearing the burgundy velvet jacket in lot 133, and it was also worn for another Mick Rock photoshoot for the front cover artwork for Sheer Heart Attack (1974). Some of the earliest stage appearances are at Imperial College, London in 1973 where Freddie wears this choker with his black and white asymmetrical stage suit (lot 38) and the famous black wrap-around top decorated with yellow diamante (lot 40), and at the Rainbow Theatre, London, November 1974 where Freddie wore it with another black velvet wrap-around top (lot 118). In November 1974 he wore it for stage rehearsals for the BBC TV chart show ‘Top Of The Pops’, again with his burgundy velvet jacket (lot 133). It last seems to have been worn on stage during the A Night At The Opera tour of 1975, and then disappears from view, probably due to some damage it sustained which is evident on a small section of the choker where the coils have become stretched. LITERATURE Killer Queen: The Official Limited Edition, Genesis Publications, 2003, illustrations include: 11 & 13 – Imperial College, 1973 20 – 25 – pre tour photo session, 1973 74-75, 88 & 110 – Freddie photo session, 1974 94 & 102 – Rainbow Theatre, November, 1974 126 & 127 – awards ceremony at The Café Royale 143 & 145-148 – recording ‘Sheer Heart Attack’, Trident Studios, 1974 152 & 153 – ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ front cover photoshoot, 1974 160 & 164 – Freddie solo photoshoot, Holland Road, December 1974 SPECIAL NOTICE No right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property or image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited to song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 111: Freddie Mercury's silver choker, worn circa 1973 - 1975

freddie mercury's silver choker, worn circa 1973 - 1975

Freddie Mercury's ‘Black Queen’ catsuit by Wendy de Smet

Freddie Mercury's ‘Black Queen’ catsuit by Wendy de Smet Worn by Freddie Mercury on stage Christmas Eve, 1975, at the Hammersmith Odeon, and on tour, 1975-1976 a catsuit of black stretch satin slashed to the waist at the front with angular, shaped neckline decorated either side at the top with several frond-shaped tabs, both the deep cut front and long tight sleeves with zip fastenings, the suit with slightly flared legs, the right shoulder and front left panel at one time applied with large imitation diamonds, since removed, labelled inside ‘Wendy de Smet’ with an orange paper cleaning ticket with typescript date details: ‘Apr 13 77’ attached by a large safety pin The ‘Black Queens’ were made by Wendy de Smet in the autumn of 1975 to coincide with the start of the tour promoting the album A Night At The Opera. The designer made two versions this one (see also lot 45). They represented the evil counterparts to the White ‘Mercury Wing’ outfits and although similar in basic design were cut with a radically lower neckline. In conversation with Wendy Edmonds (née de Smet) in June 2023 she informed us how involved Freddie had been with the concept of the design of his iconic catsuits: "he wanted [the two black suits] to look more evil as [they] symbolized the Black Queen”. He had provided the designer with the high quality stretch satin fabric she was to use in the construction of both the darkly symbolic significant ‘Black Queen’ costumes and their ‘good’ white Mercurial Wing counterparts. She confirmed to us that she had designed both the evil Queens in plain black without any decoration and that Freddie had sewn any jewelled adornments on himself. This catsuit is photographed being worn by Freddie on stage complete with its ‘jewelled’ embellishments in 1975-76, most notably in the second half of Queen’s momentous Christmas Eve concert at the Hammersmith Odeon at the close of the U.K. tour. This was one of Queen's most famous shows of all time, broadcast live simultaneously on BBC Radio and TV. It is now understood that the imitation diamonds showing on the catsuit then had been added by Freddie and were subsequently removed by him and repurposed as adornments on a black sleeveless and footless elastane catsuit with low scoop neckline (lot 162), which he wore on stage in 1976-77. This ‘Black Queen’ and its partner ‘The Spine Suit’ (lot 45) were worn by Freddie for the second half of the show during both the European US and overseas legs of the A Night At The Opera Tour, 1975-1976. It seems probable that Freddie wore a pair of black leather square-toed lace up shoes with this outfit, included in this auction (lot 147). The visual contrast between black and white was central to Queen's visual image in the early years of their career. It symbolised the struggle between good and evil that was at the core of the fantasy elements of Queen's early lyrics, epitomised by two tracks on Queen II: May's 'White Queen' and Mercury's 'March of the Black Queen'. The album itself was divided into 'Side White' (predominantly written by Brian May) and 'Side Black' (with Freddie Mercury as chief composer). Freddie and the band’s devotion to this visual juxtaposition continued throughout 1975-76. Freddie’s collaboration with Wendy de Smet meant his spectacular stage costumes were a perfect manifestation of the strong theme. LITERATURE Rupert White, Queen In Cornwall, Antenna Publications, 2022, 2nd Edition, pp.276-277 Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender, A Life In Pictures, Welbeck, 2012 Phil Sutcliffe with Peter Hince, Mick Rock, Reinhold Mack and Billy Squier, Queen The Ultimate Illustrated History of The Crown Kings of Rock, Voyageur Press, 2009 SPECIAL NOTICE No right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property or image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited to song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights. No right to exhibit in public or reproduce this lot is included with the sale of this lot without the prior written consent of Queen Productions Limited, who shall act in good faith to consider any such requests.

View 1 of Lot 152: Freddie Mercury's 'Black Queen' catsuit by Wendy de Smet, worn on stage, 1975-76

freddie mercury's 'black queen' catsuit by wendy de smet, worn on stage, 1975-76

Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own | The Evening Sale

Freddie Mercury's stage-worn costume, 1972-1974

Freddie Mercury's stage-worn costume, 1972-1974 featured on the cover of Queen's debut album, 1973 a bespoke two-piece asymmetrical suit of black and white satin, the v-neck top cut across a diagonal at the front into two panels, the right three-quarters in black with no sleeve, the left quarter white with one full length black sleeve with slit opening at inside seam from forearm to cuff, the back one complete white panel, with zip-fastening to right side; and a pair of flared satin trousers, the right leg black, the left white, with two-button fastening at waistband, the outside leg seams and waistband stitched in white thread, the interior waistband lined in ivory cotton with a red, grey and blue diagonal stripe, the flares 31 cm wide at foot, (both pieces unlabelled) (qty 2) Freddie wore this distinctive outfit on stage between 1972 and 1974, and Douglas Puddifoot’s shots of Queen performing at the Marquee Club on 22 December 1972 were used as the striking front cover image of Queen’s eponymous first album (1973). Freddie was also photographed by Mick Rock in this asymmetrical outfit at Queen’s landmark Imperial College shows on 26 October and 2 November 1973. Freddie also wore this suit on the BBC chart show Top Of The Pops performing 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' on 28 March 1974. This stage outfit is one of the earliest stage-worn costumes in this collection. In an interview in 2000 Brian May spoke about how a photo of Freddie in this costume came to be the cover image for Queen's first album: “The artwork for our first album was coming on nicely – Freddie and I had been working on a collage of Doug’s [Puddifoot’s] designs pictures for the back cover [...] But the front cover was still a problem. One night I was flicking through the photos and I suddenly realized what a striking image Freddie in the spotlight made. I cut him out (cutting off his leg!), pasted him (slightly reduced) back on the spotlight image, and suddenly it jumped out as a cover. I remember thinking very consciously – Freddie as singer will be our figurehead – let’s use him as such.” Mick Rock’s stage photographs, which are not specifically dated, of the two Imperial College shows on 26 October and 2 November 1973 show Freddie wearing this outfit on one of these occasions. In the book Killer Queen, Brian May recalls the November concert: "It is hard to describe how momentous this gig actually was for us. Imperial College was my own college… and over the previous couple of years I had continually scrounged time in lecture theatres to rehearse the band [lot 1130 is a jacket worn by Freddie in July 1970 at one of these rehearsals] [...] suddenly on this little stage, in the main hall for the first time ourselves we met an energy coming back towards us.” Freddie also wore this asymmetrical outfit for studio photo shoots with Mick Rock, one of which features the band posing with a vast sceptre and crown, which was disliked by them all and kept under wraps for the next thirty years. Black and white was key to Queen’s stage look for several during the early years of their career: "we have this black and white theme that we carry out in England and it’s very strong. It has even got to the point where the audience dress and look like me to a tee." (Freddie, quoted in Killer Queen). Freddie usually did his best to distance himself from any serious interpretation of the black and white themes in their work, telling a Mexican journalist in 1981, "It didn't have any special meaning". In another interview, he claimed simply that black and white were guitarist Brian May's favourite colours. But pushed by a European journalist in 1975, he did admit that the contrast reflected ‘the bisexuality thing’ and the differences between male and female genders. LITERATURE Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, A Life In Pictures, 2012, illus. pp.44-45. Mick Rock & Queen, Killer Queen, The Official Limited Edition, Genesis Publications, 2003, illus. pp. 15-17, 20-21. Phil Sutcliffe, Queen, The Ultimate Illustrated History Of The Crown Kings Of Rock, Voyageur Press, 2009, illus. p.28 SPECIAL NOTICE No right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property or image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited to song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights. No right to exhibit in public or reproduce this lot is included with the sale of this lot without the prior written consent of Queen Productions Limited, who shall act in good faith to consider any such requests.﻿

View 1 of Lot 37: Freddie Mercury's stage-worn costume, 1972-1974, featured on the cover of Queen's debut album, 1973

freddie mercury's stage-worn costume, 1972-1974, featured on the cover of queen's debut album, 1973

Freddie Mercury Autograph draft working lyrics of songs for the album Queen II, comprising: i) 'Ogre Battle', partial draft lyric fragments and notes on musical structure, in black ballpoint, 2 pages, on a single leaf of plain notepaper (203 x 127mm) ii) 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke', autograph draft lyric fragments, 3 pages, and notes on vocal harmonies, 4 pages, blue and black ballpoint and fibretip, on 4 leaves of different papers ranging in size from foolscap to 197 x 125mm iii) 'Nevermore', autograph draft lyric fragments and notes on vocal harmonies, 4 pages, blue and black ballpoint, on two leaves of lined notepaper (202 x 125mm) iv) 'The March of the Black Queen', extensive autograph draft lyric fragments, 12 pages, detailed notes on vocal harmonies, 7 pages, overdubs, bass lines, and recording notes, 5 pages, on 14 leaves (plus one blank leaf) of different papers ranging in size from foolscap to 197 x 125mm v) 'Funny How Love Is', autograph draft lyrics and vocal harmonies, in blue ballpoint, 3 pages, on 2 leaves of lined notepaper (207 x 130mm) altogether 23 leaves, c.1973 Queen cut their second album at Soho's Trident Studios in August 1973, just a month after the release of their debut. The band had a number of songs in their existing repertoire that had not been recorded for Queen, so not every song was fresh for the album. Freddie Mercury wrote six of the eleven tracks on the album, comprising the entire second side ("side black") of the album, but 'Ogre Battle', 'March of the Black Queen', and 'The Seven Seas of Rhye', all dated back - at least in part - several years. The album's attitude is encapsulated by its working title, "Over The Top", as Queen developed the extravagant multi-layered sound that would characterise their work in the 1970s. This group of manuscripts includes drafts for five of Freddie's six songs on the album (for 'Seven Seas of Rhye see lot 116). These songs are also written into the notebook (lot 104) that Freddie kept at the time, however, so many of the drafts are incomplete, and a large proportion of these manuscripts relate to vocal harmonies and other musical questions that confronted the band in the recording studio. 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' is characteristic of Freddie Mercury's early songs in its use of fantastical imagery. It was explicitly inspired by the extraordinary painting of the same name by Victorian artist Richard Dadd (a fold-out reproduction of which was issued with the album), which was one of his favourite artworks (see also lot 1847). Mercury's lyrics describe the scene depicted in Dadd's unfinished masterpiece, painted while the artist was incarcerated in an asylum. The current manuscripts comprise an early draft of the lyrics and extensive notes on the harmonies. Unsurprisingly, the most extensive drafts in the current lot relate to 'March of the Black Queen'. This song was six and a half minutes long and proved too complex ever to be performed live. In a 1974 interview for Melody Maker, Mercury contrasted his struggles with the song with the ease with which he wrote 'Killer Queen': "Now, March Of The Black Queen, that took ages. I had to give it everything, to be self-indulgent or whatever." Brian May has identified the song as a precursor to 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in its unusual and complex musical structure, enigmatic lyrics, and the extensive use of overdubbing in its recording. The current notes include extensive draft lyrics as well as pages of notes on vocal harmonies and other features such as a list of overdubs, making very clear the hard work that went into recording this epic track. The album was released in March 1974 with exceptional cover art by Mick Rock. Characteristically, the album riled many music critics but it was vastly more successful with the record-buying public than their 1973 debut. It reached number 5 in the UK charts and even made some impression on the American charts (peaking at number 49): Queen were on their way to stardom. SPECIAL NOTICE No right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property or image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited to song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights. No right to exhibit in public or reproduce this lot is included with the sale of this lot without the prior written consent of Queen Productions Limited, who shall act in good faith to consider any such requests.

View 1 of Lot 115: Freddie Mercury | Autograph manuscripts lyrics of songs for the album Queen II, c.1973

freddie mercury | autograph manuscripts lyrics of songs for the album queen ii, c.1973

Freddie Mercury’s silver snake bangle Worn in the Bohemian Rhapsody video, 1975 a coiled snake chain bangle, German silver marks to back of snake’s head, the head with green faceted glass eyes - 4.5 cm long (total length when measured around from head to tail 95 cm.) - worn by Freddie in the mid-1970s most notably in the Bohemian Rhapsody video whilst wearing one of the ivory Wendy De Smet ‘Mercury Wing’ catsuits and boleros (See Lot 43, Lot 150 & Lot 151) There are numerous photographs of Freddie wearing this bangle in the mid-1970s including a black and white press photograph by Doug McKenzie (see Lot 159) of Freddie receiving his Ivor Novello award for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at the Dorchester Hotel, London, 11 May, 1976 (see Lot 46) and wearing his yellow and black striped diamanté studded ‘Cub Scout’ T-shirt (see Lot 163); also seen in footage of the Promo Rushes for 'Somebody To Love', 1976, with Freddie recording in the studio (as seen in the 2011 BBC documentary Days Of Our Lives, Part I). LITERATURE Killer Queen, The Official Limited Edition’, Mick Rock Photographs, Genesis Publications, 2003. SPECIAL NOTICE No right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property or image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited to song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.

View 1 of Lot 28: Freddie Mercury’s silver snake bangle, worn in the Bohemian Rhapsody video, 1975

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