Colonel Harland Sanders' personal effects, including his iconic black bow tie and a 1964 planner, sold for thousands of dollars at a Kentucky auction Tuesday. The sale comes as the KFC founder's former home and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House are also available for purchase.
More than 70 items from Sanders' personal and professional life were offered to collectors and enthusiasts in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The collection included handwritten notes, recipe cards, and personal memorabilia.
"They had all of this in basements and closets and everything, and decided it was time to let the world, who loves the man, have an opportunity to buy the memorabilia," said Bill Menish, owner and lead auctioneer with The Menish Group.
Among the top-selling items was Sanders' 1964 planner, which garnered $30,000. A certificate naming him a Kentucky Colonel from 1955 sold for approximately $23,000, and his signature clip-on bow tie went for $8,000.
One collector described the planner as the most fascinating item, noting a handwritten list of 11 herbs and spices on its back. The auction also featured items illustrating Sanders' business acumen, such as a vintage Kentucky Fried Chicken operations manual.
Sanders' granddaughter, Elizabeth Pitchford, attended the auction. "I really wanted to see the people who were going to be purchasing my grandpa's stuff," she stated, describing the experience as overwhelming.
While the memorabilia auction has concluded, other significant parts of Sanders' legacy are still on the market. His former residence, Blackwood Hall, and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, established by his wife, are being sold through a sealed bid process. Offers for these properties were due by midnight Friday. The Settle family has owned these properties since 1974.
