Star Trek fans from around the world have spent more than $7 million snapping up memorabilia from the TV and movie franchise at a three-day New York City auction celebrating its 40th anniversary. The sci-fi sale concluded on Saturday with more than 1,000 lots, including costumes, models and props, going under the hammer at Christie's - with most items fetching far more than their estimated price.

The highest value item was a model of the Starship Enterprise-D which attracted a staggering winning bid of $576,000. It had been estimated to fetch just $25,000. A model of the Starship Enterprise-E sold for $132,000, and a Borg cube model from Star Trek: First Contact fetched $96,000. They were only expected to raise $8,000 and $1,000 respectively. Captain Jean-Luc Picard's chair sold for more than $62,000, while the auction's final lot, a model of the Starship Enterprise-A, fetched $284,000.

John Wentworth, executive vice president of communication at CBS Paramount Television, says, "We were thrilled to be able to bring (fans) tangible, coveted pieces from our beloved Star Trek, and they now own Trek history and have made this auction a huge success."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)