More than 70 personal items once owned by KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders sold at auction Tuesday in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Collectors from across the country and online bidders competed for a piece of fast-food history.

The collection featured items from Sanders' personal and professional life, including handwritten notes, recipe cards, his signature clip-on bow tie, and a 1964 planner.

Bill Menish, owner and lead auctioneer with The Menish Group, stated that the items were previously stored in basements and closets before the decision was made to offer them to the public.

Among the top-selling items was the 1964 planner, which sold for $30,000. A Kentucky Colonel certificate from 1955 garnered approximately $23,000, and Sanders' iconic black clip-on bow tie sold for $8,000.

One buyer, who identified as a former employee of Colonel Sanders, noted the planner as the most fascinating item. The planner reportedly included a handwritten note on the back listing "11 herbs and spices."

In addition to personal mementos, many items documented the growth of Kentucky Fried Chicken into a globally recognized restaurant brand. Menish highlighted the introduction of the pressure cooker, which reduced cooking time for fried chicken from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, as a significant innovation that aided the restaurant's expansion within the burgeoning fast-food industry.

Elizabeth Pitchford, a family member of Colonel Sanders, attended the auction to observe her grandfather's legacy being acquired by new owners. She described the experience as overwhelming.

Beyond the memorabilia auction, other aspects of Sanders' legacy are also available. His former residence, Blackwood Hall, and his wife Claudia's restaurant, the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, are being offered through a sealed bid process. Offers for these properties were due Friday at midnight. The Claudia Sanders Dinner House, which opened after Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken, remains a landmark tied to the family's history. The properties have been under the ownership of the Settle family since 1974.