• A full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 before she became famous, has sold at auction for $37,500 — more than double its pre-sale estimate.

• Christie's auction controversy reveals China's dilemma in retrieving lost relics. In the middle of the angst: bronze rabbit and rat heads.

• A Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa racing car is expected to set a record auction price of $15 million when it comes up for sale in the Italian city of Maranello in May.

• Gandhi's sandals, pocket watch and spectacles, which the father of the Indian independence movement said gave him "the vision to free India," will be sold to the highest bidder at a New York auction house next month, but his great-grandson joined Indian MPs in demanding their return.

• Some North American wildlife advocacy groups are urging eBay to ban the posting of certain guided trophy hunts currently available on the online auction site. Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Raincoast Conservation and Big Wildlife sent correspondence to eBay CEO John Donahoe requesting that posting of hunting auctions for such big predators as bears, wolves and mountain lions no longer be allowed.

• Here's a twist on efforts to stop human trafficking: Hold a singles auction to raise money for the Somaly Mam Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending sexual slavery.

• A charity auction for a steakhouse lunch with renowned oil trader T. Boone Pickens has sold for $125,000 (€96,842) — one of the largest sums raised in such an auction — as philanthropists and charities are forced to look for creative ways to raise money in the downturn.


 

• Fresno woman’s 1869 baseball card brings her $64,073.

• No big bucks in auction of species names? Maybe they needed cooler animals than bats

• Rare portrait by Francis Bacon that was expected to fetch up to £6 million has failed to sell at auction amid fears that the recession is hitting collectors. Really? People are watching their wallets?

• One day you receive a letter saying your home will be auctioned off. The next day, a letter saying it was a mistake arrives. Was supposed to be a friendly reminder to pay back taxes. East Greenwich, R.I., sounds like a fun place to live.