E Mare Libertas!

Via The Bellman, we learn that the principality of Sealand — one of the world’s great micronations — is for sale.

Sealand celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has been governed by His Royal Highness Paddy Roy Bates, Prince of Sealand, since 1967, when the pirate radio broadcaster took control of Roughs Tower by chasing its previous squatters away with molotov cocktails and (possibly) gunfire. According to other reports, the price of Sealand is set at a minimum of 65 million English pounds, which is quite a lot to ask for to own a 60-year-old concrete platform and a couple of buildings that suffered fire damage last year. More significantly, in the interests of global stability the Prince has stipulated that neither the name nor the laws of Sealand may be altered by the new owners; indeed, the new “owners” would not officially own the nation, which would still officially remain within the Bates family. Still, with the transfer of authority the new sovereigns would presumably acquire the micronation’s glorious reputation for mini-golf and slot-car racing — two sports in which Sealand has performed capably in recent years. Sealand also claims the Danish football club Vestbjerg as its national team.

For those unwilling to cough up 65 million pounds, it is still possible to become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness of Sealand for the smaller sum of 20 pounds. T-shirts and fire-damaged bolts are also available.