Mahatma Gandhi's will - auctioning at $62,000 alongside personal items

Mahatma Gandhi's final will is set to lead a sale of his personal items, which will be held by Mullock's Auctions on May 21 in Ludlow, UK.

Gandhi linen shawl
This hand woven linen shawl is seen in almost every picture of him



The Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera sale will present a remarkable selection of Gandhi artefacts, with his will valued at ?�30,000-40,000 ($46,648-62,198). It is handwritten on two pages of folio paper in Gujerati, and signed by Gandhi using his Gujerati signature.

Sharing the same valuation is a 1920 power of attorney document to Gandhi's son, which is handwritten by the peaceful leader on four pages, bearing various stamps from Indian banks as well as the seal of the sub-registrar of Ahmedabad.

Elsewhere, a range of items will be offered from when Gandhi was recovering from illness in Juhu in 1924, including his personal prayer beads, which are estimated at ?�10,000-15,000 ($15,549-23,324).

The beads are featured in the book Sumati Morarjee - Felicitation Volume Bombay 1970, and came from the house where Gandhi lived from 1917-1934.

A linen shawl made from thread that Gandhi spun himself will sell for ?�15,000-20,000 ($23,324-31,099). Along with Gandhi's spectacles, the linen shawl is without question one of the most iconic of his personal items.

In 2012, Mullock's held another auction of Gandhi memorabilia, with 29 items - including his spectacles, and soil stained with his blood - selling to Kamal Morarka, head of India's Samajwadi Janata Party. 

An archive of unseen letters and memorabilia also appeared at Sotheby's last year, but was returned to India in a $1m private deal ahead of the sale.

India's economy continues to move from strength to strength, as does interest in collecting among the country's middle class.

Check back here for the results of the sale later in the month.

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