The Maltese Falcon statuette, which featured in 1941 Humphrey Bogard movie of the same name, is going under the hammer.
The movie prop is expected to fetch nearly USD 1 million from Guernsey's auction as it is said to be one of the most valuable in the industrywith Dorothy's ruby red slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz', which fetched USd 666,000 in 2001 auction.
Considered one of greatest films of all time, the 1941 film's infamous black bird was created by artist Fred Sexton on a request from film's director John Huston.
Bogard played the role of a private detective Sam Spade and Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaughnessy, his femme fatale client in the film, which was based on a detective book by Dashiell Hammett.
There were reportedly four props on the set - three made of plaster and one made from metal.
The prop that is being offered for the auction belongs to Hank Risan and has Sexton's initials.
