Sir Edmund’s mementos spark bidding fury on online sale

Five-dollar notes bearing his image were the most saleable items on Trade Me, with bids on one signed note already at 350 dollars.

The auction started after Sir Ed's passing, with the listing reading, "Rest in peace, Sir Edmund. You will never be forgotten."

The seller obtained Sir Ed's signature at a Christchurch charity event.

A framed 5-dollar note signed by Sir Ed was also made available on the site, and three bidders quickly pushed the price up to 325 dollars.

The most expensive item listed was an Italian-made ice axe signed by Sir Ed, with a starting bid of 5000 dollars.

As news broke of Sir Ed's death, Trade Me message boards began to fill with an outpouring of grief.

"Our whole country will fall into mourning now," the NZPA quoted a fan, as writing on the site.

"I have tears and did not even know him but grew up with him always in my life, like many Kiwis did. What a very sad day for our nation,” the fan added.

Many people turned to social networking site Facebook, with New Zealanders around the world using the Internet to unite in their grief.

Sir Edmund Hillary died on January 10 at the age of 88. (ANI)