Bruce Lee memorabilia defeats all estimates at Dynasty Auctions sale

The auction was led by a $76,850 fur coat from a film Lee never completed and a signed letter

Bruce Lee's immense charisma continues to have a powerful effect on collectors from beyond the grave, and that was shown once more this weekend (August 6) as a signed letter and fur coat related to the star beat their estimates in a sale held by Dynasty Auctions in Hong Kong.

The letter, signed "Bruce", was written in 1966 to friend Taky Kimura. It states that Lee was "looking forward for the TV series of 'Green Hornet' to come out so that Gung Fu will catch on".

The Green Hornet was a US television series starring Lee. It ran for just one season between 1966 and 1967 but was instrumental in shooting Lee to international stardom.

No doubt interest in the piece was encouraged by the recent Green Hornet film, despite the Seth Rogen/Jay Lou version not being in quite the same style as the original series. The letter fetched HK$400,000 (US$51,233) beating a HK$200,000-300,000 estimate.

This is not the only piece of Bruce Lee's writings on the market at the moment. Collectors of his memorabilia will be keen to get their hands on his personal martial arts booklet which is currently up for sale.

A little cumbersome for Kung Fu - Bruce Lee's fur coat

The letter was not the top piece of Lee memorabilia in the sale however. That honour went to a dark blue fur-lined Chinese-styled long jacket created and made for Bruce Lee's upcoming movie 'name unknown' he was to make after Enter the Dragon.

(The auctioneer leaves the film description as 'name unknown' - Lee was working on Game of Death when he died.)

Estimated at just HK$100,000-150,000 (up to US$19,200), it quadrupled this to achieve HK$600,000 (US$76,850).

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A 1966 letter written by the great martial artist could star at Dynasty Auctions in Hong Kong on August 6

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Image: Dynasty Auctions