Just as the auction hammer was knocked in the board for the highest bidder of 202 Mandela memorabilia's in South Africa yesterday, such as salt and pepper shakers and a signed image of Mandela meeting Michael Jackson among them, a similar photo has seen the light of the day and has been put on sale.

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The picture shows actor Leonardo DiCaprio shaking hands with the late President Nelson Mandela, and the price is fixed at $25,000. But the profit from the sale will not benefit the South Africans this time. On the contrary the private company Moments In Time will take the profit from selling the image at their site, where they offer autographs and other original items from celebrities.

The photo has an inscription by Mandela to the actor: "To Leo DiCaprio, Best Wishes, Mandela, 4-8-07."  But it was never forwarded to DiCaprio, who now claims his rights to the photo and is considering legal action through his lawyers.

Gary Zimet from Moments In Time denies giving the image to the actor: "They think by trying to intimidate me, that they can get the picture for free. The provenance is ironclad. Leo is welcome to buy it," he tells New York Post

It is not known how the photo, that was shot during the take of the movie "Blood diamonds" in 2006, has found its way to Moments In Time, but it is for everyone to see if they look at the company's homepage

The company clearly stresses, that they keep their sources confidential, and that they already own the rights to the photo.

As soon as DiCaprio and his camp learned about the existence of the picture, he on the other side claimed his right to the photo, and that he wants it: "The photo is clearly not their property," said a source close to the actor.

Actually 2006 was not the first time DiCaprio met Mandela. He also met the South African President in 2005 together with his mother, Irmelin.

TagsLeonardo DiCaprio, Nelson Mandela, photo, Mandela memorabilia, Moments In Time