A rare and highly coveted feather from the extinct huia bird of New Zealand was sold at an auction, for an impressive NZD$46,521 ($28,365), establishing it as the most expensive feather in the world. The huia bird, which was native to the North Island of New Zealand, became extinct in the early 1900s, with only one reported sighting in 1924.
The feather put up for auction earlier this week was initially estimated to fetch between $2,000 and $3,000. However, it ultimately surpassed these expectations.
According to Webb’s Auction House, based in Auckland, the feather of the bird, which was last sighted in the 20th century, has previously been sold for as much as $5,100.
“This rare huia feather is a beautiful example of Aotearoa’s natural history and reminds us of the fragility of our ecosystem,” said Leah Morris, head of decorative arts at the auction house, in a statement.
Morris informed the Guardian that she attributes the high bids to the exceptional condition of the single feather and the measures taken to preserve it, including archival paper and UV glass, as well as the story behind the huia bird.
According to the British newspaper, the specimen was among the finest huia feathers ever to be brought to market by the auction house.
The feather, weighing approximately nine grams, was also determined to be far more valuable than gold.
On the day of the auction, which occurred on Monday (May 20), gold was valued at $127 per gram. Compared to the price at which the feather was sold, one gram of the feather was worth $5,169.
The huia, which was the largest of New Zealand’s wattlebird species and renowned for its melodious song, was considered a prized bird. However, its desirability ultimately contributed to the species’ demise.
The last confirmed sighting of this bird, distinguished by its predominantly black glossy feathers and white-tipped long-tail feathers, was in 1907.
The huia bird held sacred significance to the Māori people and was frequently referenced in their songs and proverbs. According to the Guardian, huia feathers were reserved for chiefs and individuals with mana (prestige).
By the time Europeans arrived in New Zealand, the birds were already scarce, and the European demand for their feathers hastened their extinction. Despite efforts by scientists in the early 1900s to save the species from extinction, these attempts were unsuccessful.
Prospective buyers of the feather, considered of national importance, were required to obtain a permit from New Zealand’s Ministry for Culture and Heritage before the sale on Monday. Additionally, the feather could only be purchased by a registered collector and could not leave the country without the ministry’s authorization.