auction

Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe print sells for record $US195 million at auction

Shot Sage Blue Marilyn is one in a series of portraits Warhol made of the actress following her death in 1962 and has since become one of pop art's best-known pieces.

Held in the collection of Swiss art dealers Thomas and Doris Ammann, it was sold by Christie's at an auction in New York. Pre-sale estimates had reached as high as $US200m.

The painting sold for a hammer price of $US170m but added fees gave it a final price of $US195m.

More Jordan memorabilia sold at auction

The ticket sold for a final bid of $220,000, with a 20 per cent buyer's premium added to the price.

Jordan made his NBA debut on October 26, 1984, at the Chicago Stadium, in front of more than 13,000 people, as the Bulls recorded a 109-93 win over the Washington Bullets.

Jordan played 40 minutes and scored 16 points in the game, as well as recording six rebounds and seven assists.

'Wilson' volleyball head from Cast Away film sold for $308,000

The film depicts Tom Hanks as a lone survivor stuck on a deserted island. The ball, which his character names Wilson, is depicted as his only friend.

The ball was originally made to look dirty, and spent a lot of time in the water during filming, according to Prop Store, the auction house that sold it.

Hanks was given an Oscar nomination for best actor in the Robert Zemeckis film.

The movie star lost out to Russell Crowe for his role in the film Gladiator.

During the film, Hanks talks to Wilson as a way to keep his sanity while struggling to survive.

Michael Jordan's trainers sell for record $2.05m at auction

Jordan used the pair of red and white Nike Air Ships during his first season with the Chicago Bulls in 1984.

That was the year he and Nike began their collaboration to create his signature brand of clothes and shoes.

The price is the highest ever paid for game-worn footwear from any sport.

Jordan is seen by many as the best player in the history of basketball.

The shooting guard, who spent most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, became a global icon and helped raise the NBA's profile around the world.

Super Mario 64 game sells for record-breaking $1.5m at auction

The 1996 cartridge was a launch title for the Nintendo 64 console, and was one of the most influential early 3D platformers.

The auction house said there were "fewer than five" copies in such good condition.

The sale dwarfed another record-breaker, an original Legend of Zelda cartridge, set just two days before.

That original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridge sold for $870,000 on Friday, briefly making it the world's most expensive game.

Federer auctions off kit

Among the items going under the hammer on 23 June are clothing and racquets the Swiss great used in his 2009 French Open final win over Robin Soderling - his sole Roland Garros title - and the smart white cardigan he donned for his 2012 Wimbledon final win over Andy Murray.

The price tag estimates for the 20 lots being auctioned by Christie's range from £3,000 to £70,000, with the clothing and racquet he used in his victory over great rival Rafael Nadal in the 2007 Wimbledon final expected to fetch £30,000-£50,000.

Rarest white diamond ever set for auction record

Weighing just over 102 carats, the round, brilliant white stone is smaller than a 163-carat oval diamond sold in Hong Kong in 2013, which currently holds the record price per carat.

But Sotheby's, which also handled that Hong Kong sale, expects the smaller stone's rarity and high quality will see it attract an even higher price.

2017 Pacific Mini Games Team Vanuatu fundraising Auction

Vanuatu 2017 and VASANOC (Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee), with the generous assistance of the Carbine Club of Vanuatu, this Friday will be auctioning the 2000 Olympic Games Torch signed by Olympic Gold Medallists Cathy Freeman of Australia in Athletics and Barbra Kendall of New Zealand in Sailing.

The Carbine Club has been operating in other countries for 50 years. It was first founded as a men’s luncheon club in Melbourne in 1961 and is named after the legendary racehorse, Carbine.