John Lennon. Michael Putland/Getty Photographs
John Lennon remains to be making music historical past.
An acoustic guitar that when belonged to The Beatles star and was thought of misplaced for 50 years offered at public sale for almost $3 million in New York Metropolis on Wednesday, Might 29.
Lennon used the 1964 Framus 12-string Hootenanny guitar throughout recording classes for the Beatles’ albums, Assist! and Rubber Soul, each launched in 1965, mentioned Julien’s Auctions. It was additionally utilized by Lennon’s bandmate, George Harrison, and will be seen within the 1965 film, Assist!
The public sale home mentioned the guitar obtained a remaining bid of $2,857,500. It was estimated to promote for between $600,000 and $800,000.
“We’re completely thrilled and honored to have set a brand new world document with the sale of John Lennon’s misplaced Hootenanny guitar. This guitar isn’t solely a bit of music historical past however an emblem of John Lennon’s enduring legacy,” mentioned Julien’s Auctions CEO David Goodman in a press release obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
“As we speak’s unprecedented sale is a testomony to the timeless enchantment and reverence of The Beatles’ music and John Lennon,” added Goodman.
In keeping with the public sale home, Lennon — who died in 1980 — gifted the guitar to Scottish musician Gordon Waller, one-half of the Sixties pop music duo Peter and Gordon, in late 1965. Lennon and bandmate Paul McCartney had written some songs for the duo.
Waller later gave the guitar to his supervisor, who saved it in an attic in a home within the U.Ok. countryside, the place it was left to assemble mud for 50 years, per Julien’s Auctions.
The public sale home mentioned the instrument is now the fifth most costly guitar ever offered.
In 2015, one other guitar belonging to Lennon, a Gibson acoustic guitar that was stolen from the singer in 1963, offered for $2.4 million at public sale, based on The Guardian.
“It’s such an necessary a part of Lennon’s profession and Beatles historical past. I knew it will go over $1m. I had no thought it will go over $2m,” auctioneer Darren Julien mentioned on the time.
