‘Wizard of Oz’ Cowardly Lion costume fetches $3M

NEW YORK – The Cowardly Lion costume from the classic film The Wizard of Oz and the piano from the movie Casablanca each sold for over $3 million at a New York City auction.

They were among Hollywood memorabilia offered at Bonhams on Monday.

READ MORE: Cowardly Lion costume from ‘Wizard of Oz’ to be auctioned

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The big cat outfit, which went for just over $3 million, had been authenticated as the one Bert Lahr wore in the 1939 film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

A spokesman for costume owner James Comisar says a secondary costume used in the film sold at auction in recent years for close to $1 million.

Comisar has a trove of TV memorabilia from shows including I Love Lucy and Lost. He has said he plans to use money from the Cowardly Lion costume sale to exhibit his collection.

The upright Casablanca piano fetched $3.4 million.