John Lennon's Lost Beatles Guitar Expected to Shatter Auction Record

A long-lost guitar played by John Lennon during the recording of The Beatles' iconic 1965 album "Help!" is set to make history at auction next month. The 12-string Framus Hootenanny acoustic guitar, which Lennon also used in the film "Help!", was recently rediscovered after spending the last 50 years forgotten in an attic in the British countryside.

Julien's Auctions, the auction house handling the sale, believes the guitar could fetch between $600,000 and $800,000, potentially establishing a new world record for the highest price paid for a Beatles guitar. The current record stands at $2.4 million, which was paid for Lennon's Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar in 2015.

Darren Julien, co-founder of Julien's Auctions, called the discovery of the "Help!" guitar "the most significant find of a Beatles guitar since Paul McCartney's lost 1961 Höfner bass guitar." He described the instrument as "the most important Beatles guitar to ever come to market" and compared its significance to finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso.

Why this matters: The auction of John Lennon's lost guitar is not only a significant event for Beatles fans and music memorabilia collectors but also a reflection of the enduring legacy and cultural impact of the iconic band. The potential record-breaking sale price highlights the continued fascination with and value placed on rare artifacts tied to music history.

The guitar's journey began when Lennon gifted it to Gordon Waller of the British duo Peter and Gordon in the late 1960s. It then vanished from the public eye until its recent rediscovery. Experts at Julien's Auctions have confirmed the guitar's authenticity through its unique woodgrain and other identifying features.

In addition to the Lennon guitar, the upcoming Music Icons auction will feature other notable music memorabilia, such as a guitar from U2's Adam Clayton and a Kurt Cobain handwritten setlist. The auction will take place on May 29-30 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City and online through the auctioneer's website.

Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, expressed the significance of the guitar's discovery, stating, "Finding this guitar is like finding a needle in a haystack. It's

Key Takeaways

• John Lennon's lost 12-string guitar from "Help!" found after 50 years.
• Guitar expected to fetch $600,000-$800,000, potentially setting new record.
• Considered the "most significant find" of a Beatles guitar since 1961.
• Auction to feature other notable music memorabilia, including from U2 and Kurt Cobain.
• Auction to take place on May 29-30 at Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.