A rare feather of an extinct New Zealand guya bird was sold at auction for 46,521 New Zealand dollars (28,365 US dollars), which made it the most expensive pen in the world. The feather was expected to sell for $2,000-$3,000, but the final price far exceeded those expectations.
The Huia was a sacred bird to the Maori, and its feather was worn only by chiefs and people of high status. The last confirmed sighting of a guy was in 1907. Europeans, fascinated by the beauty of this bird, caused it to become extinct through hunting.
At Webb’s auction in Auckland, the feather was sold after fierce bidding, where all bids were made by phone or online. The auction house's head of decorative arts, Leah Morris, said the piece was one of the best ever to come up for sale. The feather retained its colors and was free of insect damage, which raised its price.
The guya feather is registered as a taonga tuturu (true treasure) with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. This means it can only be purchased by registered collectors and the pen cannot leave New Zealand without permission. Information about the supplier and the buyer remained confidential, but it is known that they both live in New Zealand.
About 30 people attended the auction. When the bidding ended, the room erupted in applause, which Morris said is a rare occurrence at auctions.