Brooke Astor auction fetches $8.7M

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    FILE - This undated file photo provided by Sotheby's shows the staircase at Brooke Astor's Westchester estate, Holly Hill, in Briarcliff Manor, New York. On Sept. 24-25, 2012, Sotheby's New York will auction some 800 of the late philanthropist's personal items from her Park Avenue duplex and the stone manor in Westchester. (AP Photo/Sotheby's, File)

    The first day of an auction of the contents of philanthropist Brooke Astor's two homes brought in $8.7 million on Sept. 24, Sotheby's said.