A guitar owned by John Lennon during his early years with the Beatles was sold at auction last Thursday for $337,226. The winning bid in the Christie’s auction was nearly double the amount the instrument had been predicted to fetch.
The guitar, a 1958 Hofner Senator model, was accompanied by a fax of a 1982 letter from George Harrison that verified the instrument was one of Lennon’s first guitars. Harrison’s letter was invaluable, as Lennon’s friend Pete Shotton told Christie’s that Harrison’s memory for details regarding guitars was impeccable, adding that the “quiet Beatle” would never have put his name to such a statement were he not certain it was true.
Harrison also indicated, in the document, that the “Hofner [was] one of the first guitars of John’s going back to the early days in Liverpool [1960-ish].” Lennon bought the guitar at Hessy’s Music Store in Liverpool on August 28, 1959, and it’s believed he kept the instrument at home for songwriting purposes. Lennon eventually gave the guitar to his friend, the Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans.
To view the instrument, and to read further details, click here.