See more of the story

There's another auction of commonplace objects made valuable when they passed through the life of an entertainer, or his chimp. Some clothing worn by John Lennon will fetch up to $200,000, presumably because such holy relics can cure sickness if sufferers are allowed to touch them. And there's lots of Michael Jackson stuff, too.

There you have our culture's priorities: one grand for a look inside the skull that housed the most brilliant mind of the 20th century, and twice that for a chimp's pants.