CHRISTIE'S TO SELL RARE SKULL FROM SKULL AND BONES SOCIETY

A UNIQUE HUMAN SKULL THAT ONCE APPARENTLY BELONGED TO YALE'S MYSTERIOUS 'SKULL AND BONES' SOCIETY IS BEING SOLD AT AN UPCOMING AUCTION. CHRISTIE'S, NEW YORK, BELIEVES THE SKULL WAS USED AS A BALLOT BOX AROUND 1872. IT HAS A HINGED TOP AND IS SURROUNDED BY CROSSBONES. SKULL AND BONES WAS FOUNDED IN 1832. THE ELITE SOCIETY HAS CLOSELY GUARDED ITS MEMBERS' NAMES AND ITS ACTIVITIES SINCE THE EARLY 1970s. PUBLICLY KNOWN MEMBERS INCLUDE BOTH PRESIDENTS BUSH. THE PURCHASER ALSO WILL GET A BLACK BOOK WITH NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF EARLIER MEMBERS. THE AUCTION IS 27.JANUARY AND TE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE IS $10,000 TO $20,000. FITTINGLY, CHRISTIE'S HAS AGREED TO KEEP THE SELLER'S NAME A SECRET. IT DESCRIBES THE PERSON ONLY AS A EUROPEAN ART COLLECTOR.