‘Wizard of Oz’ Cowardly Lion costume auctioned for $3m

Bert Lahr’s Cowardly Lion costume from the classic film The Wizard of Oz has sold for more than $3 million (Dh11 million) at an auction in New York City.

The big cat outfit had been authenticated as the one Lahr wore in the 1939 film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

It sold at an auction of Hollywood items at Bonhams on November 24.

A spokesman for costume owner James Comisar says a secondary costume used in the film was 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.