Stairs from the Eiffel Tower, street lamps from the Champs Elysees and a telephone cabin from the 1950s are among emblematic pieces of Paris up for auction on 14 December.

"To celebrate the Eiffel Tower's 120 years" and "pay homage to Paris", some 350 items will be up for grabs at the "Paris Mon Amour" (Paris My Love) sale, auctioneer Christophe Lucien told AFP.

A 40-step piece of staircase from the Eiffel Tower is estimated at between 60 000 and 80 000 euros (87 000 to 116 000 dollars) with street lamps from the Champs Elysees boulevard at 1500 to 2000 euros (2200 to 2900 dollars) and the oak public phone box at 1000 euros.

Also up for grabs are old rubbish bins, street benches and even a Paris metro ticket-puncher from the days when an inspector manually punched tickets for travellers on the underground system.

Tourist maps of Paris from the 18th century, ancient prints, records and books too are being auctioned.

AFP

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