The James Brown Collection was auctioned Thursday at Christie's in New York, fetching $857,688 (or $857,562, depending on where you see it on that site).

(London) Times Online: Godfather of Sold: James Brown auction raises $850,000. "His estate has been the subject of much dispute and legal wrangling involving members of his large family, including several adult children, former girlfriends and ex-wives."

James Brown died Christmas Day, 2006 at 73.

Lots of suits and awards, instruments, furniture, furs, his medical bracelet ($32,500, sold to David Letterman's band leader, Paul Shaffer), above, a passport ($7,500), Dome Hair Dryer ($10,625).

An undated typewritten poem by Muhammad Ali, "King James Brown by Muhammad Ali, The World's Greatest Poet, King of all Poets, On Behalf of the People of Western New York" ($25,000).

Interesting: Keys to Cities ($4,375).

A group of 11 Keys to Cities awarded to James Brown including: Wilmington, NC; Greensborough, NC; Dayton, OH; Sumter, SC; Fayetteville, NC; South Bend, IN; Washington D.C.; Florence, SC; Albany, GA; Sacramento, CA; and one unknown

The winning bidder may be coming to your city to see if that last key opens it.

All the photos are at christies.com