This lot will be auctioned on Thursday, April 30th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM (BST) / 10:00 AM (EDT) / 7:00AM (PDT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace.

A rare limited edition blue vinyl pressing of Queen's acclaimed song "Bohemian Rhapsody", gifted to Peter Hince by Freddie Mercury. This lot comes from the personal collection of Hince, who was Queen's head roadie for 11 years. Hince discusses this very record in an interview during the BBC documentary The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody (2004) and shows the blue vinyl single on screen. An image of this exact disc can also be seen on page 15 of Hince's book Queen Uncovered: Unseen Photographs, Rarities and Insights From Life With A Rock' n' Roll Band. Pressings from this limited edition rarely appear at auction.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is widely regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time, spending nine weeks at the top of the UK singles chart upon its original release. To commemorate EMI Records Ltd. receiving the Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement, the label commissioned 200 special edition pressings of the single. These were presented as souvenirs to guests attending a celebratory dinner at Selfridge's on 26 July 1978, when the award was formally presented. The first 10 pressings were framed and gifted to Queen, their management and senior EMI executives.

This example, numbered 195 of 200, comprises a 7-inch blue vinyl record with a bright purple sleeve printed in gold. The edition number "195" is also handwritten on the back of the sleeve. The vinyl displays minor marks, while the sleeve shows light edge wear and creasing. This lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity co-signed by Peter Hince. Dimensions (vinyl): 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm (7" x 7"); (sleeve): 18.5 cm x 18.25 cm (7.25" x 7.25")

Peter Hince began his career in the music business in 1973 as an eighteen-year-old roadie working with David Bowie. Later that year, while touring with Mott the Hoople, he first encountered the then-unknown band Queen, who were supporting the group on their UK tour. During this period, Hince also worked on tours for artists including Lou Reed, Mick Ronson, Supertramp and Roxy Music, among others prominent in the 1970s music scene.

In the summer of 1975, as Queen recorded A Night at the Opera, Hince joined the band full-time. He served primarily as roadie to Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, later becoming head of the band's road crew. During his more than a decade with Queen, Hince developed a passion for photography. Trusted by the band, he was frequently able to capture set-up and candid moments in the studio, during rehearsals, on video shoots and behind the scenes on tour. Many of these photographs were subsequently used internationally on album sleeves, single covers, posters and other promotional material.

Following Queen's final tour in 1986, Hince left the music industry and turned his long-standing hobby into a successful career as a photographer. He went on to win awards for his advertising work as well as for his distinctive black-and-white underwater photography. Throughout this period he remained close to Queen, particularly Freddie Mercury, photographing Mercury's solo projects and attending many of his private events and gatherings.

In recent years, Hince revisited his remarkable archive of Queen photographs, which formed the basis of the exhibition Queen - The Unseen Archive, now touring internationally. He has also returned to his earliest passion, writing. His memoir, Queen Unseen, received critical acclaim and has been published in more than twenty territories worldwide. In October 2023, a deluxe photographic volume, Queen Uncovered, was released, featuring many previously unseen images alongside rare memorabilia.

Based in London and Munich, Peter Hince continues to write, manage his photographic archive, and appear as a corporate and guest speaker on Queen and the music business of the 1970s and 1980s.

Propstore is pleased to present Peter Hince's archive of Queen memorabilia at auction for the first time.

The collection comprises 67 lots preserved from his years touring with one of the world's most celebrated rock bands. Many of the items featured in the sale are documented in Queen Uncovered. Each lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity co-signed by Hince, and purchasers of orders over £1,000 will receive a signed copy of the book.

Estimate: £20,000 - 40,000 M