Freddie Mercury, a renowned musician known for his unrivaled voice and flamboyant stage presence, passed away at the early age of 45. His untimely demise was caused by AIDS, a disease that decimated the 20th century and took the lives of many individuals. His untimely passing caused his fans all over the world to be in deep mourning over the loss of an unreplaceable musical legend.

Freddie practiced Zoroastrianism.

Farrukh Bulsara was born in Zanzibar in 1946 to Bomi and Jer Bulsara, two Parsi Indian immigrants who came to Africa in order to escape religious persecution in Iran. Freddie’s parents enrolled him at a British boarding school in Bombay when he was a young child, where he began playing the piano and giving performances.  His passion for experimenting with various genres eventually led him to discover his love for rock and roll, setting him on a clear path towards pursuing his dreams as a musician.
The Boulsards relocate to the United Kingdom.

In the middle of the 1960s, Freddie’s family moved from Zanzibar to England. He kept honing his musical abilities and pursuing his passion for music as a teen. Before joining the renowned band Queen, he played in a number of bands under the stage name Freddie Mercury.nAlthough Freddie Mercury was raised in the Zoroastrian religion, his commitment to it diminished as he gained notoriety. While his parents stayed devoted, Freddie over time lost interest in religion. He yet clung to some facets of his faith right up until his demise in 1991.
The biggest treasure

Following Freddie Mercury’s death, his family honored his Zoroastrian faith and conducted his funeral according to its customs. The ceremony was led by a Zoroastrian priest and, in accordance with tradition, nearly all of Mercury’s belongings were destroyed by fire. However, his parents chose to keep one special item as a cherished memento of their beloved son: his stamp collection. Freddie Mercury’s stamp collection, which he had inherited from his father and expanded over the years, has become a cherished family heirloom that is now displayed at the Postal Museum in London. While many of Mercury’s belongings were burned in accordance with his family’s religious practices after his death, the stamp album was spared from destruction and preserved as a tribute to the musician’s life and legacy.

According to Joanna Espin, the curator of the Postal Museum, Freddie Mercury’s stamp collection is a remarkable artifact that offers intriguing insights into his distinctive and colorful personality. Unlike conventional stamp albums, this collection places more emphasis on shapes, colors, and patterns than on the stamps themselves. It is a testament to Mercury’s unconventional approach to life.

Due to its immense popularity and frequent use in touring exhibitions worldwide that pay tribute to the late rock star, the rare stamp collection is not a permanent exhibit at the Postal Museum.

In keeping with his final wishes, Mercury bequeathed his entire estate to his beloved companion and muse, Mary Austin, and requested that she bury his ashes.