Colonel Sanders Memorabilia and Former Home Head to Auction

Personal effects of Harland “Colonel” Sanders—including his pressure cooker, signature black bow tie, watches, and a 1964 planner—are being sold alongside his former 5,000-square-foot residence, Blackwood Hall, and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House. Online pre-bidding closes before a live, in-person auction on Tuesday evening, while sealed bids for the property will be accepted through Friday. The Menish Group is handling the sale.

The Independent

The Shelbyville, Kentucky, complex served as the first headquarters of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the late 1950s. Sanders sold the home and dinner house to Tommy and Cherry Settle in 1974; the Settle family has operated the restaurant ever since. The estate, which Sanders named Blackwood Hall, was the site where he refined the Colonel persona that later defined the brand.

The Independent

Among the memorabilia, a 1955 honorary Kentucky Colonel certificate has attracted a high bid of $7,500. A bust of the Colonel sculpted by his daughter is currently at $4,400, while an original cash register is bidding around $5,000. The iconic black bow tie has drawn online offers exceeding $4,000. Other items include Sanders’ personal watches, a cutlery set, a commercial gas range, and the aforementioned planner that was once the subject of a early-2000s lawsuit over the secret 11-herb blend.

UsNews and World Report

Bill Menish of The Menish Group described Sanders as “the original celebrity chef” and a “marketing genius” who deliberately crafted the Colonel image—clothes, bow tie, glasses, and goatee—to promote Kentucky Fried Chicken. Menish said the auction has generated worldwide interest, prompting a format that accommodates bidders from around the globe.

UsNews and World Report

“Not a lot of people know; he did wear clip-ons,” — Tuesday. Auctioneer Jonathan Klunk

UsNews and World Report