From: stevedc@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Stephen Carter)
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc,rec.music.beatles,alt.rock-n-roll
Subject: Autumn '92 Memorabilia Auctions - Report
Keywords: Beatles Memorabilia
Date: 7 Sep 92 07:58:37 GMT
Organization: University of Sussex


        Autumn 1992 Rock'n'Roll Memorabilia Auctions
        ============================================

(... better late than never....)

This year,  as every year since about 1980,  the major London 
Auction  houses  of Sotheby's,  Christies  and  Philips  held 
auctions of Rock'n'Roll Memorabilia.   Unfortunately although 
I was able to get to the Sotheby's and Christies views I  was 
unable to get to any of the auctions - so prices will have to 
come in another posting if they are attention attracting. 

What it is worth noting is that at the views you can  examine 
any  of  the items as much as you want.   Thus,  if  you  had 
wanted  to,  and I did (!),  you could have  examined  George 
Harrison's original lyrics to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", 
or the first printers proof of the Sgt Pepper Cover corrected 
by Paul and Peter Blake, or Peter Blake's first workings onto 
Paul's  original sketches...   Whatever your  favourite  band 
there was sure to be some heart stopping material for you  to 
examine to your hearts content.  

In case my overseas readers listen to the BBC World  Service, 
if at the time of these auctions you heard an interview  with 
two likely lads on this subject,  one was me!   I was the one 
who  didn't  talk  about the historic  relevance  -  likening 
Jagger's trousers to Nelson's socks.
 
Again,  as in most years, memorabilia relating to The Beatles 
was  the largest single category,  and Sotheby's scooped  the 
others by selling a portion of Mal Evans'  belongings.   (For 
those  not in the know,  Mal was the second Beatles roadie  - 
Neil Aspinall being the first - and was with them right  from  
1963  until  the very end.   Eventually he ended up  shot  in 
sordid and sad circumstances in the gun crazy USA).   Mal was 
CLOSE to the band,  and was with the Fabs (often filming)  in 
circumstances  that no outsider would have been  allowed  in.  
When he was killed by the US police,  John wrote to his wife, 
" He was a Good Man and I loved him"

See later for more details.

Until some kind soul buys me a good scanner (or points me  to 
one?),  all  I  can  post  is a  summary  of  the  lots  plus 
observations, sometimes adding the auctioneer's (often wildly 
wrong) valuations from the catalogues.


Phillips
======== 
The Who - 12 inch master tape for Live at Leeds (and I  don't 
know how come this was for sale!

Sex Pistols.   "Duvet cover depicting the lads up to  naughty 
tricks"

Queen  - Contract for Smile - Freddie and Brian  May's  first 
band

Buddy Holly - Wallet

Buddy Holley (correct).   1954 Lubbock High School year  book 
showing Buddy with the original spelling.

Stones - Assorted old (and recent) autographs

Stones  - 1963 Acetate (Diddley  Diddley,  Bright  Lights,  I 
Wanna Be Loved,  Honey What's Wrong,  Road RUnner).  Vendor's 
brother  lived below Mick/Brian/Keef at 10 Edith  Grove,  and 
Brian gave him the acetate.   (Previous books claim that  two 
ladies of the night lived below them..)

Stones  -  Huge  collection of  acetates  of  unreleased  and 
alternate recordings.   One (yet again) of an LP with Beatles 
on Side One, and Stones on Side 2.

Beatles - Autographed singles,  albums, menus, serviettes.... 
etc

Beatles - Books, posters, ephemera...

The original artwork for the censored 'Butcher' cover.   (The 
pricing  of this at 100 UK pounds just shows  how  inaccurate 
the guide prices can be!)

The  bathroom  baisin and toilet brush from john's  house  at 
Tittenhurst (ugh!)

Beatles - Gold parlophone stereo and mono albums...

Beatles - Paul's script for Hard Day's Night - signed by  all 
4 Fabs and others.  (What hope the Shirt Scene eh! saki!)

John's Ivor Novello award for "She's Leaving Home"

Beatles - "The Patterson Beatles Collection"  Basically  this 
was a very complete LP,  CD, Single, video, book, cutting etc 
collection  (the like of which many rmb readers have) -  well 
catalogued  and  listed (23 closely  typed  columns).   Guide 
priced at 20,000 pounds.  A very big collection, but from the 
list nothing UNIQUE. Up your insurance folks!

Elvis - Autographs etc

Elvis - 1972 Stage jumpsuit

Elvis - Black cadillac Sedan de ville 19ft 7 inch long, black 
windows...  Just the thing!  Often used in Memphis.



Christies
=========

Various - Gold Discs.. etc 

Marc Bolan  - Various papers including lyrics, plans, etc

Clapton  - Set of fascinating letters from EC to a friend  in 
jail.   All handwritten, some with sketches.  All originating 
from his (published) home address.

Doors  - rare private printing of a book of Jim M's  writings 
autographed by the LIzard himself

Hendrix - Autographs (one with Clapton)

Jacksons - Songrwiters contracts for several Jackson 5 songs

Madonna - crucifix 

Prince - Hat - cane (walking stick)

Prince - designs for stage costumes with sample materials

Prince - signed guitar

Queen - black wet look 2 piece stage suit

Stones  - autographs etc posters from  1960's  etc,  Jagger's 
suits (?)

Stones  - Ltd edition Decca radio only promo album signed  by 
the  group.   (Morons at Christies valued it at 250 pounds  - 
low  indeed,  but  insane  when  I  add  that  it  was  fully 
autographed!)

Stone - Woody's Fender Telecaster

Stones   -   Signed   Steel   Wheel's   cover   reproduction.  
(Interestingly  that  this was signed in GOLD  pen  caused  a 
friend  of mine to be very interested - this is because  only 
about 10 were done in the few days before the opening of  the 
US Tour.   Amazed that it was for sale as all were thought to 
have been given to good homes)

Sex Pistols - Sid Vicous's passport

Springsteen - handwritten lyrics

Beatles - autographs etc as Phillips..

Beatles - a  collection of very early autographs and  letters 
between  the  Beatles and a  close  fan/friend.   Interesting 
stuff.

More  Beatles  1962/3/4  memorabilia  and  cuttings,   signed 
albums, etc etc

Lennon   -  Alternative  artwork  drawings  for  first  book, 
George's mosaic for his (GH's) swimming pool etc.

Short film of Beatles on stage Oct 31 1964

Autographed  menu  for the (charter) flight taking  Fabs  and 
others to Bahamas for Help filming - misprinted 'Beattles'

Yellow Sub - sketches of artwork and trial cel's

McCartney's  pullover.   Not as odd as it seems.   Paul  wore 
this in many of the scenes in Magical Mystery Tour (and other 
times and places) and in turn had got it from John.  Acquired 
by Denny Laine who was selling it

1967  Letter  from  Lennon to a then pupil  at  Quarry  Bank.  
(Personal note - I discover to my amazement that I once  knew 
the recipient who went out with and lived with another friend 
of mine - she in turn by the way was at the Wimbledon  Palias 
Fan CLub gig and shook hands with all 4,  her dad threw  away 
all  her  fan  club  stuff the  weekend  after  she  went  to 
university.   Anyway,  when they broke up,  I helped her "get 
access" to his flat and we removed from it all her stuff.  If 
I'd know the letter was there....!)


Sotheby's
=========

Marx Brothers Autographs

Elvis's Rolls Royce Phantom V tourer

Who - a Keith Moon drum set

Stones - autographs, albums....  Two lots caught my eye.  One 
was  a  trunk  full of cuttings and ephemera  (I  spent  ages 
looking  at them and now believe they have gone to  the  best 
home!),  and  a set of boxes of albums and singles.  Made  me 
wonder....

Stones - original recording contracts and royalty statements

Signed copy of Stone Alone :-)

Jimi - scarf

Queen - Dress designed by Freddie whe he was at ealing school 
of art.

Madonna's gold basque (signs of wear!)

U2 - Trabbie !


Only Beatles from now on, so .....
     =======

Mal  Evans  COllection.   Photos (many unique) and  from  all 
stages  of the Fab's career.  Film of Ringo filming  'Candy'. 
Mock up for clothing catalogue.   Set of documents (contracts 
etc,  tour  details,  letters) relating to Aug/Sept  1964  US 
Tour.   John's handwritten lyrics for 'Because'.   Paul's for 
"She's Leaving Home".  George's top hat as worn in Help! (See 
cover photo).  Acetates of unreleased mixes. BEA(tles) flight 
bag.   Film of recording of Day in The Life.  Film of Mal and 
Paul  on holiday in europe and africa.   Ditto Paul & MAl  in 
USA.   Ditto all the fabs on private trip to Greece (to  find 
and island to live on).   Ditto all fabs in India.   All good 
stuff eh!  AND sold WITH copyright!

JOhn's handwritten lyrics for Day In The Life  (!)

(End of Mal's collection)

Usual  selection  of  albums,  bits  of  paper,  posters  etc 
autographed etc.

Stu Sutcliffe Paintings.  

Register for Quarry Bank High School 1954/5

Coast worn by George when he married Pattie

Ten quartz crystals (given by george to Alan Williams)

Abbey Road recording machine

Letter from John to his dad

1962 concert poster (property of Pete best)

3 origianl tapes of Beatles at the Star CLub.   (Believed  to 
be the original of these much cut about recordings)

Sgt Pepper designs and proofs (tasty!)

Signed script for 'From Us To You' (18 Dec 1963)

Signed  Script for 'Its The Beatles' and 'Juke Box Jury'  7th 
Dec 1963

Signed  Script  for  'Our World'  (All  you  need  is  Love).  
(Producer Derek Burrell-Davis)

Bass Drum Skin - The Beatles

Advertising sign from the Casbah

Peter Kaye - total of 72 negatives (with copyright) of  these 
great very early photos.   (Visitors to Liverpool must  visit 
The Beatles Shop in Matthew Street and pick up a book  called 
"Peter Kaye - The Beatles in Liverpool"  Amazing stuff, never 
seen elsewhere)

Lennon - Set of Bag One litho's  99/300

Set of six alternates for Abbey Road COver

Avedon Posters



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When I get to hear of prices I'll pass on highlights.  
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc,rec.music.bluenote