Freddie Mercury's 41st birthday party worn shirt, Ibiza, September, 1987

Freddie Mercury’s 41st birthday party worn shirt, Ibiza

A brightly coloured short-sleeved shirt incorporating two different patterns, one in green, red, yellow and turquoise incorporating crowns, horses and saddlery motifs, the other in shades of fuchsia pink, lime green, purple and turquoise incorporating rearing horses and abstract patterns, cut slightly shorter at the front than the back, with white metal button fastening, labelled ‘Verte Vallee’ – worn for Freddie’s legendary 41^st birthday party at Pikes Hotel, Ibiza on 5 September; dubbed the ‘party to end all parties’ Freddie is captured in photographs included in this auction (see lot 59) enjoying the company of friends he had flown in for the occasion, including Steve Strange and Jim Hutton – this shirt was also worn with the ivory herringbone suit in lot 253 (see lot 59). See also lot 2273 for the shirt Freddie wore for the pre-party on 4 September and lot 2270 for the ‘bird’ shirt worn on the same trip.

See lot 605 for the corresponding birthday party invitation.