NEW YORK — Before Nelson Mandela was elected the first Black president of South Africa, he was sent to jail for 27 years for opposing apartheid in that country.

The prison key to Mandela’s jail cell is just one of many historic items that will be part of an auction at Guernsey's auction house at the end of the month. But there's a twist — the South African government wants the key back.

The key is owned by Christo Brand, one of Mandela's jailers. The two actually became good friends. Brand has had the key since the 1980s, when upgrades were made to the jail and the key was no longer needed.

The president of Guernsey's, Arlan Ettinger, believes it is best to have the key sold, since all proceeds will help fund the Mandela Memorial Garden.

In addition to the key, auction items include gifts from Presidents Obama and Bush, an iconic "Madiba" shirt, one of his tennis racquets, paintings he made, and Winnie Mandela's wedding ring, which was gifted to a family member of a different jailer whom Mandela also befriended.

The auction of all of these historic objects will take place on Jan. 28.