Gun used to kill JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald to be sold in 'one-of-a-kind' Las Vegas auction

Last updated at 12:55 29 February 2008

The gun used to kill JFK assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is to be sold at an auction hailed as the best collection of American 'pop culture' ever assembled.

The Colt Cobra revolver used by Jack Ruby to kill Oswald in 1963, just days after Oswald was arrested for assassinating the U.S. President, could fetch several million pounds alone, auctioneers believe.

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Collected over the past 25 years, the lots also feature the Wicked Witch of the West's hat from 'The Wizard of Oz'.

President of New York-based auction house Guernsey's, Arlan Ettinger, said the collection of 850 lots could fetch more than £3 million when it goes under the hammer in Las Vegas next month.

Mr Ettinger said: "This collection is as good as it gets.

"Most collections have one or two great things and then things trail off from there.

"This collection - there would have to be 100 items here - any one of which would be a star attraction anywhere else."

Mr Ettinger added he believes the gun which killed Lee Harvey Oswald days after he was arrested for assassinating John F. Kennedy could fetch a huge sum alone.

The gun still shows the scratched initials of detectives who handled the case.

"The whole world saw that unfold live and here's the very gun and the hat that Jack Ruby was wearing," he said.

The collection was put together by a prominent property developer from South Florida, Anthony Pugliese, and includes a whip and the holy grail from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.

Also up for grabs is the jacket worn by Beatle John Lennon in the 'Imagine' video, the wedding dress worn by pop star Madonna in her 'Like a Virgin' video, a 'Superman' costume worn by Christopher Reeve, and an Andy Warhol paint brush.

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But surely the most unlucky item on sale is the leather jacket worn by actor Brandon Lee when he was accidentally shot and killed while filming 'The Crow'.

The auction takes place at The Palms Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, on 15th March.