Fur Sale: Cowardly Lion's costume from The Wizard Of Oz

The Cowardly Lion costume from the classic film The Wizard Of Oz is taking the Yellow Brick Road to auction.

The costume will be sold in New York by Bonhams on Monday, along with other Hollywood items.

The big cat outfit has been authenticated as the one actor Bert Lahr wore in the 1939 film which starred Judy Garland, according to a Bonhams’ sales catalogue. It is topped by a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

A secondary costume used in the film was sold at auction in recent years for nearly $1m, a spokesman for costume owner James Comisar said.

Mr Comisar, who has a trove of TV memorabilia from shows including I Love Lucy and Lost, has said he plans to use money from the Cowardly Lion costume sale to put his collection on show.