Wizard of Oz cowardly lion costume fetches $3m

Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume from the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" has sold for more than $3million at an auction in New York City.

The big cat outfit had been authenticated as the one Lahr wore in the 1939 film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

It sold at an auction of Hollywood items at Bonhams on Monday.

A spokesman for costume owner James Comisar says a secondary costume used in the film was sold at auction in recent years for close to $1 million.

Comisar has a trove of TV memorabilia from shows including "I Love Lucy" and "Lost." He has said he plans to use money from the Cowardly Lion costume sale to exhibit his collection.