WWI spy Mata Hari's belongings up for auction


A rare collection of letters, pictures and other personal objects from Dutch exotic dancer and convicted spy Margaretha Zelle, also known as Mata Hari, are going up for auction.

Julia de Jong, Veilinggebouw De Zwaan auction house manager, said: "The collection we are now selling comes directly from the granddaughter of the third wife of the ex-husband of Mata Hari.

See also: Infamous Nazi golden gun up for auction

See also:
Eva Braun's Hitler photo album up for auction

"Which means that it's a direct descendant of the family."

She went on to explain that the items on sale had actually been used by the famous spy: "She really sat on the chair, she really worked on the desk."

"She actually wrote the letters that we are now selling."

The unique collection will go under the hammer at the De Zwaan auction house in Amsterdam later this month.

Mata Hari was an exotic dancer and courtesan who had numerous famous lovers including the German crown prince, the Dutch prime minister and the Duke of Brunswick.

She was convicted of spying for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad in France in 1917.



Advertisement