(Photo: Unsplash / Jefferson Santos)
In a remarkable event that rocked the auction world, John Lennon's iconic "Help!" guitar sold for a staggering $2.86 million at Julien's Auctions. This sale, which took place at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York during Julien's two-day Music Icons auction, set a new world record for the most expensive Beatles guitar ever sold at auction. The previous record was held by Lennon's J-160E Gibson, which fetched $2.41 million in 2015.
The Iconic Guitar's History
The guitar in question is an early '60s German-made Framus Hootenanny 12-string acoustic guitar. Lennon bought this guitar in late 1964 and used it throughout studio sessions for the Beatles' 1965 hit record "Help!" This was played in several famous tracks namely "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", "It's Only Love", "I've Just Seen a Face" and "Help!". During "Norwegian Wood," the rhythm guitar was played by another Beatle, George Harrison. Using this instrument, it was also detected that the guitar was used in a few sequences of The Beatles' 1965 movie, "Help!"
Just like the tale of the guitar, what became of Lennon's guitar is an even more interesting tale. The tune reached vocalist Gordon Waller of the folk duo Peter and Gordon in the late 1960s, where it has again remained unheard for nearly fifty years. Uber recently, the current owners found it in their old house located in the British countryside attic and then decided to reach Julien's Auctions.
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Auction Highlights
The guitar was expected to be sold for between $600,000 and $800,000, but it attracted a telephone bid that exceeded the high estimate by three times. "We are absolutely thrilled and honored to have set a new world record with the sale of John Lennon's lost hootenanny guitar," reads part of David Goodman, the CEO of Julien's Auction. This is not merely an example of music history and a testimony of John Lennon's talent."
The first day of Julien's Music Icons auction was excellent for the auctioneer; lots were sold for three times the amount promised, and the total sales amounted to $6 million. In the past, nearly all lots were sold; hence, this can be said to have been at a 98. 5 percent sell-through rate. This is particularly evident in the Julian Lennon Collection pieces, especially those limited edition items such as gold Beatles records and animation cells from "Yellow Submarine."Among the items offered at the auction, over $570,000 were donated. Other prominent sales offered were - Dolly Parton guitar for $ 10,400, Rolling Stones print for $ 16,250, and Eric Clapton guitar for $ 101,600.
Looking Ahead
They proceeded the next day, Thursday, 30th May, to auction pieces associated with musicians, including Prince, Steve Jones of Sex Pistols, and U2, to mention but a few. The fans and those who had already become collectors also looked forward to whether more records would be broken during the subsequent sessions.
It can be seen that the sale did not just focus on the merchandise that has been associated with John Lennon and the Beatles. Still, its message goes a long way in emphasizing the timeless importance of memorabilia and how much they are worth as being attached to two of the most influential musicians in the world. Lennon's Framus Hootenanny guitar is a musical instrument and a relic that signifies a period of artistic history. Its record-breaking sale is a testament to its unique place in the hearts of fans and collectors worldwide.
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