John Lennon's lost guitar found after 50yrs; to be auctioned
A Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, once played by John Lennon for several iconic The Beatles tracks, has been discovered after being stored in an attic for half a century. The instrument is now set to be auctioned in New York City next month. Julien's Auctions announced the news on Tuesday. The guitar has been described as the "most important Beatles guitar to ever come to market."
Guitar is expected to fetch upwards of $8,00,000
The guitar is expected to fetch more than $8,00,000, potentially setting a new global record for the highest-selling The Beatles guitar. Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions, compared the discovery of this instrument to finding a lost masterpiece by Rembrandt or Picasso. The two-day auction event will take place in New York City in May.
The guitar was featured in the film 'Help!'
The guitar was featured in the 1965 film Help!, with Lennon playing it during the performance of You've Got to Hide Your Love Away. It disappeared in the late 1960s after Lennon gave it to Gordon Waller of the British duo Peter and Gordon. The instrument was later passed on to his road managers and was recently discovered in an attic in rural Britain by the current homeowners.
The auction will also feature other items
The homeowners contacted Julien's Auctions after finding the guitar. During their visit, Julien's executives saved the original Maton case from being discarded. This case, made in Australia, can be seen in pictures of The Beatles from 1965. The auction will also feature items including a Gianni Versace dress worn by Tina Turner and a handwritten Nirvana set list by Kurt Cobain.
