LANDMARK GRAND PIANO PLAYED EXTENSIVELY BY FREDDIE MERCURY, RECORDING MIC & HANDWRITTEN LYRICS HIT MUSIC AUCTION

THE PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN ITEMS FORM PART OF THE REINHOLD MACK COLLECTION WILL BE A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF PROPSTORE’S $4 MILLION MUSIC LIVE AUCTION.

LOS ANGELES , CA, UNITED STATES, August 24, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Reinhold Mack Collection, an extraordinary 82-lot archive, offered directly by Mack: the legendary Queen producer and his son, Freddie Jr., Mercury’s godson. Spanning their landmark work together at Musicland Studios, the collection features handwritten lyrics, recording equipment and other personal memorabilia that document one of the most important creative partnerships in rock history.

At the heart of the collection is the Yamaha C3 Grand Piano from Munich’s legendary Musicland Studios, where it was played extensively by Freddie Mercury while composing solo material and some of Queen’s biggest hits, including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Used during the recording of The Game, Hot Space and The Works, it was also played by artists including Leonard Cohen’s band, The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer and Bryan Ferry. It is considered the most significant Freddie Mercury-related artefact to come to market since the landmark 2023 sale of his personal collection. This remarkable piece of music recording history carries a pre-sale estimate of $264,000–$528,000 (£200,000 – £400,000).

Also featured is the AKG C414 EB microphone used to record Mercury’s lead and backing vocals at Musicland Studios. The only microphone of its model at the studio, it was favored by Mack for capturing Mercury’s extraordinary vocal range and distinctive layered harmonies. It was used extensively throughout Mack’s work with Queen and can be identified in footage from the 1985 recording sessions for “One Vision.” The microphone is offered with its original Sennheiser bag and the red XLR cable used at Musicland Studios with a pre-sale estimate of $52,800 – $105,600 (£40,000 – £80,000).

The collection also includes early working lyrics handwritten by Mercury for “My Love Is Dangerous” and “Let’s Turn It On,” both from his 1985 debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy. Featuring alternate and unused lines that differ substantially from the finished songs, the drafts offer a rare insight into Mercury’s songwriting process. The “My Love Is Dangerous” lyrics, headed with the earlier title “Dangerous,” also include handwritten chord arrangements on the reverse, while “Let’s Turn It On” appears under the shortened working title “Turn It On.” The sets are estimated at $3,960 – $7,920 (£3,000 – £6,000) and $1,980 – $3,960 (£1,500 – £3,000) respectively.

Among the collection’s more personal highlights is a teddy bear gifted by Freddie Mercury to the Mack family, offering a touching reminder of his close relationship with Reinhold Mack and his family beyond the recording studio. It is estimated at $1,056 – $2,112 (£800 – £1,600).

Ahead of the auction, these items from the Reinhold Mack Collection plus several other incredible pieces from the wider music auction catalogue, will go on public display at a special free to enter exhibition at The Cumberland Hotel in London from September 23 to 27, 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the pieces up close and discover the stories behind some of the auction’s most significant lots. The Grand Piano will be on public display in the hotel lobby for a limited time starting mid-September. Further details and tickets are available via: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-live-auction-vip-exhibition-the-cumberland-hotel-london-tickets-1838622893569

Auction registration is now open, and the full catalogue is available at: https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/522.

Consignor Reinhold Mack said: “Freddie was not only a colleague and close friend; in many ways, he was part of our family. Away from the countless hours we spent creating music together at Musicland Studios, our home in Munich became a place where he could escape the pressures of fame, relax and simply be himself. To us, he was never a celebrity; he was ‘Uncle Freddie’—spending time with his godson Freddie Jr., playing table tennis with Julian and celebrating family birthdays with us.

We have carefully preserved these items for decades, not because of their value, but because of the memories they hold. We now feel the time has come for others to enjoy and appreciate them, and we hope they offer fans a connection not only to Freddie’s extraordinary artistry, but also to the warm, funny and kind-hearted man we were privileged to know. The memories we shared can never be auctioned; they will remain with our family forever”.

Mark Hochman, Propstore’s Music Specialist, also commented: “The Reinhold Mack Collection offers an exceptionally personal record of Freddie Mercury at work. From the grand piano he played extensively at Musicland Studios to the microphone used to capture his unmistakable vocals and handwritten lyrics revealing songs in their earliest stages, these pieces take us inside Mercury’s creative process. Their direct provenance from Mack, one of his closest collaborators and friends, makes this collection a major highlight of Propstore’s upcoming October Music Live Auction.”

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Notes to Editors:

For further information, catalogue images and expert interviews please contact:

Bethany Willetts | bwilletts@blazepr.com

Reinhold Mack is based in Germany but will also be available for interviews to discuss his time with Freddie Mercury and Queen, as well as to share stories behind items from his personal collection featured in the auction.

The grand piano will also be available for exclusive private viewings, arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Images are available in the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/47chn545lbcqmc98i4an5/AIM0vGFs1S432O1VYHT2ryQ?rlkey=7g1tqrckzrc6psckl3dllyawn&dl=0

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About Propstore

Founded in 1998 by film enthusiast Stephen Lane, Propstore has grown from a collector’s passion project into one of the world’s foremost authorities on entertainment memorabilia. The company bridges the worlds of film, art, and collecting—offering access to authentic screen-used props, costumes, and production artefacts that bring cinematic history to life.

Working in close partnership with many of the world’s leading film studios, production companies, and entertainment brands, Propstore curates exclusive auctions and sales throughout the year, giving fans and collectors unparalleled access to items direct from the source.

Since 2014, Propstore has hosted globally acclaimed live auctions featuring artefacts from the greatest moments in film and television. Alongside its flagship events, Propstore also runs regular online auctions and studio collaborations, with more than 2,000 items available for immediate purchase at www.propstore.com

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Matthew Kovacs
Propstore
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