Rare Lennon memorabilia goes under the hammer
(26 Mar 2004) SHOTLIST APTN, 26th March 2004, London 1. VS Lennon auction 2. SOT Sarah Hodgson, Head of Christies Entertainment: 3. Photo of Lennon naked wearing leather collar 4. SOT Sarah Hodgson: I think the most personal item we''ve got is this leather collar 5. girl holding guitar 6. SOT Sarah Hodgson: 7. felt tip drawing 8. cutaway press 9. SOT Sarah Hodgson: 10. pan contract 11. SOT Sarah Hodgson: ''There is a contract 12. WS contract and figures 13. WS guitar and sale room SIXTIES BEATLES MEMORABILIA TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER A leather collar worn by John Lennon, a custom made Vox Kensington guitar, and the Beatles first fully signed contract with Brian Epstein are up for sale. Christie''s unveiled the lots on Friday (26MAR04), in London''s South Kensington. The auction house is calling the total of 250 lots the most significant collection of Beatles memorabilia to come onto the market for more than 10 years. Lennon wore the brown collar around his neck throughout 1967 and 1968. He was seen with the collar during the Sgt Pepper album launch at Brian Epstein''s house in 1967, and wore it - and nothing else - for the cover of his album with Yoko Ono in 1968. The Beatle gave the collar to Alexis Mardas, the electronics guru he nicknamed Magic Alex because of his scientific skills. Lennon, who met Magic Alex in 1966, was best man at his wedding. 15 items from Magic Alex''s collection are included in the auction, which is expected to raise a total #500,000 (Sterling). Lennon also gave him a custom made Vox Kensington guitar, now expected to reach between #80,000 and 120,000 (Sterling). Lennon used the guitar during the rehearsals for the ''Hello Goodbye'' video, filmed at London''s Saville Theatre in November 1967. It was also used by George Harrison for ''I Am The Walrus,'' for use in the Beatles ''Magical Mystery Tour'' film. The Beatles'' first fully signed contract in October 1962 with Brian Epstein is expected to sell for between #25,000 and #35,000. The collection also includes ''Strong'' drawn by Lennon in coloured felt pen on Hotel Continental stationery in 1967. He is believed to have been under the influence of LSD as he drew. The picture is now expected to fetch between #4,000 and #6,000 (Sterling.) The memorabilia will go under the hammer on 5th May. The sale comes as The Beatles notch up another achievement: the fab four have been voted the most significant and influential performers of the last half century, by the stars of today. Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Elton John and Pete Townshend were among the artists polled by Rolling Stone magazine to celebrate 50 years of rock and roll. The panel of 55 musicians, historians, industry executives and critics were asked to choose 20 rock stars then put them in order of preference. Between them, the panel named more than 125 artists. The results of the final ballot, of what''s being called the most authoritative pop poll of all time, have now been announced. The Beatles are the clear number one, with Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley in second and third place respectively. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
