Here's an intricate little story over at the Guardian (click here). It revolves around the archives of Giorgio Vasari, the chronicler of the Renaissance. The archive includes letters from Michaelangelo (Vasari's pal) and correspondence with five popes. The archive was under house arrest, until it was purchased by an anonymous Russian gas tycoon for 150m Euros, though it's valued at only 10m Euros (only). For the government to keep the archive in Italy it would have to outbid the Russian buyer (and to keep the scholars happy). The buyer apparently died 14 days prior to the transaction. The sale then fell through, but the government treasury became involved and ceased the archive due to monies owed by the Count Giovanni Festari, the archive's owner (stately homes have expensive gas bills). The lot goes on sale with a starting bid of 2.6m Euros (public-sector auctions are just the best!) The government are of course going to be there to place their bids.

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