A collection of Dame Edna Everage’s iconic spectacles, dazzling dresses, rare books, and paintings from the late comedian Barry Humphries’ personal archive is going under the hammer in London. More than 200 items will be auctioned this week, offering fans a chance to own a piece of Australian comedy history. Bridget Rollason takes a closer look at what’s on offer.
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00:00Well, some of the sparkle that made Dame Edna Everidge so special is being sold at auction
00:08here in London.
00:10And that, of course, includes many of those iconic and quirky glasses that she wore so
00:15well.
00:16A household name in Britain and Australia, Barry Humphries, who died in 2023 at the age
00:22of 89, was best known for his alter ego as the instantly recognisable character with
00:28purple hair, curly specks and sparkly frocks.
00:32And now the comedian's personal collection of art and rare books, as well as the Dame's
00:37extravagant attire, are up for sale.
00:40Amongst the items is a pair of Dame Edna's Sydney Opera House rhinestone glasses.
00:46They're estimated to go for around $3,000 Australian dollars.
00:50Edna's glasses are hilarious, and Barry, I think, took a lot of care in designing them,
00:55and they were always quirky.
00:56But you also see the evolution of Dame Edna in the glasses.
00:59You see some quite pared back ones from the early days, right up to the megastar, crazy
01:04creations dripping in rhinestones near the end of her career.
01:08There's also a very early copy of The Importance of Being Earnest, inscribed by Oscar Wilde.
01:14And a 20th century painting by Australian artist Charles Conda, estimated to be around
01:20$600,000 Australian dollars.
01:23There's also special paintings by Barry Humphries himself.
01:26I mean, several people have said to me that, you know, people know Barry Humphries because
01:30of his comedic personas, but this is the other Barry Humphries, and possibly the real Barry
01:34Humphries.
01:35There are 241 items here belonging to the celebrated showman, which are expected to
01:41total around $8 million Australian dollars.