Heritage Auctions sold one of the last surviving Rosebud sleds from the 1941 film *Citizen Kane* for $14.75 million on July 16. The prop, made of pine hardwood with a red seat stenciled with “ROSEBUD,” came from the collection of director Joe Dante, who received it in 1984 from a crew member clearing out an old RKO Pictures lot. The sled was radiocarbon-dated to verify its authenticity. The sale makes it the most expensive Rosebud sled ever sold at auction and the second most valuable piece of movie memorabilia, after the ruby slippers from *The Wizard of Oz*.
The sale underscores the enduring cultural and monetary value of iconic cinematic props, particularly those tied to a film widely regarded as a masterpiece. The Rosebud sled symbolizes lost innocence and narrative innovation, and its record-breaking price reflects the intersection of film history, collecting, and the art market. The auction also highlights the growing market for movie memorabilia, with other items from Heritage Auctions’ sale including a miniature X-wing Starfighter from *The Empire Strikes Back*.