/ 14 April 2005

Cigarette butt sells for R33 300

A cigarette butt said to have been salvaged as a souvenir before a smoking ban has been sold in an internet auction in New Zealand for NZ$7 475 (about R33 300).

The butt was purported to be the last smoked in the popular Auckland bar Malt before the introduction of anti-smoking legislation on December 10 last year.

Bidding was hectic for the resin-encased, wood-mounted gasper, and drew 139 627 visitors to the TradeMe auction site, more than double the previous record of 60 000, said business manager Mike O’Donnell.

The non-smoking Aucklander who put the commemorative ciggie up for sale had hoped it would fetch NZ$400 to NZ$500.

The successful bidder was not identified expect by nickname. — AFP