Eight hundred personal items belonging to the late philanthropist will be up for auction at Sotheby’s this September. According to the Daily Mail, “it will include pieces of precious jewelery and a vast array of furniture with an estimated total worth of $5million” (which sounds like they’re lowballing it to me). I’m bidding on the oft-worn emerald necklace and ring that her husband Vincent gave to her (Sadly, from The Last Mrs Astor: “This was the necklace she used to tell Mab Moltke she wished to be buried in, the very same necklace that, years later, she let it be known that she wanted it to go to Annette de la Renta”). The circa 1965 emerald and diamond necklace is estimated to sell for $250-350,000. The ring holds a 22.84 carat Colombian emerald and is expected to fetch $150,000. If I can’t eBay enough outfits to afford the necklace or the ring, I might possibly try for Mrs. Astor’s lion brooch with fancy colored diamonds, rubies, and coral by Van Cleef & Arpels which is expected to fetch between $20,000 and $30,000. I am a Leo, after all, and it would suit me just fine. At the VERY LEAST, I’m going to get one of the doggie paintings. (via Sotheby’s)