Auction of ex-Romanian leader Ceausescu items raises $55,000, star lot is his party card

In this photo taken Tuesday, March 24, 2015 posters warning against alcohol consumption, right, the risk of AIDS, top, pointing out that speeding leads to waste of fuel, center bottom, encouraging people to read Lenin's works on the heavy industry, left, are stored the day before an auction where people have spent euros 50,000 ($55,000 ) buying Communist memorabilia that included items belonging to the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in Bucharest, Romania. Ceausescu led one of the most repressive regimes in Eastern Europe, but 25 years after he and his wife Elena were deposed and executed during the 1989 revolution, some remain fascinated with the late leader. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

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In this photo taken Tuesday, March 24, 2015 items are stored the day before an auction where people have spent euros 50,000 ($55,000 ) buying Communist memorabilia that included items belonging to the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in Bucharest, Romania. Ceausescu led one of the most repressive regimes in Eastern Europe, but 25 years after he and his wife Elena were deposed and executed during the 1989 revolution, some remain fascinated with the late leader. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Wednesday, March 25, 2015 the first party member card of Nicolae Ceausescu reaches the price of euro 2000 ($2200) during an auction where people have spent euros 50,000 ($55,000 ) buying Communist memorabilia that included items belonging to the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in Bucharest, Romania. Ceausescu led one of the most repressive regimes in Eastern Europe, but 25 years after he and his wife Elena were deposed and executed during the 1989 revolution, some remain fascinated with the late leader. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

BUCHAREST, Romania – Bidders have spent 50,000 euros ($55,000) buying Communist memorabilia in an auction that included items belonging to the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

The star lot was a Communist Party card issued to Ceausescu in 1954 when it was known as the Worker's Party. It was sold for euros 2,000 ($2,200).

Dozens attended the auction Wednesday night at the Athenee Palace Hotel with bids also coming in by phone and online for the items, some luxurious, others of historical interest.

Artmark auction house said Thursday that 78 of the 116 items were sold.

Ceausescu led one of the most repressive regimes in Eastern Europe, but 25 years after he and his wife Elena were deposed and executed during the 1989 revolution, some remain fascinated with him.