Freddie Mercury piano, mic and lyrics head to Propstore auction

Propstore is putting a 82-lot Reinhold Mack Collection up for auction, led by a grand piano Freddie Mercury used at Musicland Studios, along with a recording microphone and handwritten lyrics. The sale, set for October, spotlights rare Queen-era artifacts with six-figure estimates and public previews in London ahead of the auction.

Why it matters: - The Reinhold Mack Collection offers a rare, firsthand look at Freddie Mercury’s creative process with Queen and on solo work. - The top lots include artifacts tied directly to some of Mercury’s best-known recordings. - Propstore’s October Music Live Auction is positioning the collection as a major draw for music collectors.

What happened: - Propstore said the Reinhold Mack Collection will be a highlight of its $4 million Music Live Auction. - The collection includes 82 lots offered directly by Reinhold Mack and Freddie Jr., Mercury’s godson. - The archive spans Mack’s work with Mercury and Queen at Musicland Studios in Munich. - The auction includes a Yamaha C3 grand piano, an AKG C414 EB microphone, handwritten lyrics, and personal memorabilia.

The details: - The Yamaha C3 grand piano was played extensively by Mercury at Musicland Studios while he composed solo material and Queen songs, including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” - The piano was used during the recording of The Game, Hot Space and The Works. - Other artists who used the piano included Leonard Cohen’s band, The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer and Bryan Ferry. - Propstore described the piano as the most significant Freddie Mercury-related artifact to come to market since the 2023 sale of his personal collection. - The piano has a pre-sale estimate of $264,000 to $528,000. - The AKG C414 EB microphone was used to record Mercury’s lead and backing vocals at Musicland Studios. - The microphone was the only one of its model at the studio and was favored for Mercury’s vocal range and layered harmonies. - The microphone appears in footage from the 1985 “One Vision” recording sessions. - The lot includes the microphone’s original Sennheiser bag and the red XLR cable used at Musicland Studios. - The microphone carries a pre-sale estimate of $52,800 to $105,600. - Mercury’s handwritten working lyrics for “My Love Is Dangerous” and “Let’s Turn It On” come from his 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy. - The drafts include alternate and unused lines that differ from the finished songs. - The “My Love Is Dangerous” pages are headed “Dangerous” and include handwritten chord arrangements on the reverse. - The “Let’s Turn It On” pages appear under the shortened working title “Turn It On.” - The “My Love Is Dangerous” lyrics are estimated at $3,960 to $7,920. - The “Let’s Turn It On” lyrics are estimated at $1,980 to $3,960. - A teddy bear Mercury gave to the Mack family is also in the collection. - The teddy bear is estimated at $1,056 to $2,112. - Public exhibition of the auction items will run at The Cumberland Hotel in London from Sept. 23 to 27, 2026. - The piano will also be on public display in the hotel lobby starting in mid-September. - Further details and tickets are available online. - The full catalogue and auction registration are available at Propstore’s auction page.

Between the lines: - The collection’s value comes from direct provenance and unusually intimate material, not just celebrity ownership. - The handwritten lyrics and studio equipment suggest bidders are buying process, not only finished fame. - Reinhold Mack’s comments frame the sale as a family decision shaped by memory as much as market demand. - Propstore’s Music Specialist Mark Hochman said the collection offers an exceptionally personal record of Mercury at work and called it a major highlight of the upcoming auction.

What's next: - The items will be shown publicly in London before bidding opens or continues for the October sale. - The piano will be available for exclusive private viewings on a case-by-case basis. - Propstore says auction registration is open now, with the full catalogue already live.

The bottom line: - Mercury-linked studio artifacts are still commanding top-tier collector interest, and this Mack archive packages several of the most compelling pieces into one sale.