The Rock & Pop sale will bring exceptional pieces of popular music history to auction in London on 29 September 2015, including instruments, lyrics, photographs, stage clothing and rare association items.
Highlights of the sale include the “ABBA Grand” piano, made by Georg Bolin, played by Bill Evans, and most significantly used in almost all of ABBA’s studio recordings 1973-1977 (lot 37); instruments, clothing and manuscripts from the collection of the legendary bassist Jack Bruce (lots 1 -36); and Eric Clapton’s Fender Stratocaster in Daphne blue (lot 66).
In addition, we are delighted to be offering the October 1962 management contract for The Beatles (lot 42). Signed only days before the release of the band’s first single, this contract is the only managerial contract signed by both the final line-up of the Beatles including Ringo Starr and their manager (the “fifth Beatle”) Brian Epstein.
The sale also features a strong selection of Bob Dylan material, including the revised typescript lyrics for ‘It’s a Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall’, a highly important working draft (lot 71). This follows the success of our New York A Rock and Roll History sale last year, where Bob Dylan’s autograph manuscript for ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ set a new record for not just material by Dylan but for any popular music lyrics sold at auction.
More info on Sotheby’s
meridianae 