A historic auction of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland Sanders’ personal items generated nearly $300,000 in sales. The auction included items from Sanders’ home, such as rings, buttons, watches, and a watch he wore during an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show.’ It also included Sanders’ Kentucky Colonel certificate, his Bible, his pressure cooker, personal bow tie and suspenders, along with his personal, handwritten datebook and planner.

Organizers said the planner was the most expensive item sold in the auction, going for $30,000. It included a page listing herbs and spices, but it’s not clear what the page represents. A Kentucky Colonel Commission certificate awarded to Sanders sold for $23,000, his pressure cooker went for $11,500 and his wristwatch went for $20,000.

The auction was held on July 28 at the Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky, with more than 500 bidders in person and online. ‘The response exceeded our expectations,’ said Bill Menish, lead auctioneer for the sale. ‘Collectors, historians, franchise operators, and Colonel Sanders enthusiasts recognized that this wasn’t simply a memorabilia auction—it was an opportunity to acquire artifacts that remained together through an extraordinary chain of ownership.’

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.