John Lennon continues to make music history as his lost acoustic guitar sells for nearly $3 million at auction.
An iconic guitar owned by The Beatles’ member, John Lennon, which was deemed lost for 50 years, was auctioned for nearly $3 million in New York City on Wednesday, May 29.
This 1964 Framus 12-string Hootenanny guitar was utilized by Lennon during the recording sessions for the Beatles’ albums Help! and Rubber Soul, both released in 1965, according to Julien’s Auctions. The instrument was also played by fellow Beatles member George Harrison and featured in the 1965 film, Help!
Guitar Auction Details
Julien’s Auctions confirmed the guitar fetched a final bid of $2,857,500. It had been estimated to sell within the range of $600,000 to $800,000.
Providing insight into the sale, Julien’s Auctions CEO, David Goodman, stated, “We are absolutely thrilled and honored to have set a new world record with the sale of John Lennon’s lost Hootenanny guitar. This guitar is not only a piece of music history but a symbol of John Lennon’s enduring legacy,” in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
Goodman further added, “Today’s unprecedented sale is a testament to the timeless appeal and reverence of The Beatles’ music and John Lennon.”
Historical Context
According to the auction house, the guitar was a gift from Lennon to Scottish musician Gordon Waller—half of the 1960s pop duo Peter and Gordon—in late 1965. Lennon and Paul McCartney had composed songs for the duo.
Waller later passed the guitar to his manager, who stored it in an attic in a rural U.K. house, where it remained forgotten for 50 years, as per Julien’s Auctions.
Significance and Other Auctions
The sale of this guitar marks it as the fifth most expensive guitar ever sold. In 2015, another one of Lennon’s guitars, a stolen Gibson acoustic from 1963, was auctioned for $2.4 million, as reported by The Guardian.
Auctioneer Darren Julien remarked at the time, “It’s such an important part of Lennon’s career and Beatles history. I knew it would go over $1m. I had no idea it would go over $2m.”
Wrapping Up
The recent auction of John Lennon’s Hootenanny guitar underscores both his lasting legacy and the enduring allure of The Beatles’ music. For more insights into entertainment and pop culture, visit HitPlay.
