Rock History For Sale
Want to go back in time and relive your wild youth? Are you willing to spend a few thousand dollars to do it?
If so, check out Christie's Auction House. This Friday it is holding its annual Rock and Pop memorabilia auction, but this year, for the first time, Christie's will be auctioning off about 70 vintage rock and roll tee-shirts.
Other items include Hank Williams' unpublished lyrics, signed instruments and posters from the biggest musicians of the 20th century including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and many others.
Simeon Lipman, head of the entertainment memorabilia at Christie's, stopped by The Early Show to show off some of the wares.
"This is an up-and-coming market, and these things are very rare and they're just so cool. So I figured, let's jump in," he said.
One of the most unique items is a yellow Yardbirds T-Shirt worn by a journalist to the 1967 Monterey Pop festival. The Yardbirds were one or Eric Clapton's earlier bands. Lipman expects that item to sell for $2,000 to $3,000. It's also Christie's earliest T-shirt in the sale.
The auction also features a promotional sweater for the Rolling Stones that was just made for the band's inner circle. Lipman said there were only 12 made and Christie's is selling number 4.
"It's embroidered on the collar, number four," he said. "Just an amazing piece of graphic art."
The collection also features a Led Zeppelin t-shirt worn only by roadies, a guitar signed by Elvis, Bob Dylan's harmonica, a headband worn by Bono and the most prized item: Hank Williams' actual handwritten lyric book.
"We have this estimated at $120,000 to $150,000," Lipman said. "It's an amazing piece of rock history. He's one of the originators if you go back. It's a foundation-type piece."
For those interested in bidding, visit the Christie's Web site on Friday Nov. 30, the day of the auction.
Here are some of the items and their estimated prices in U.S. dollars:
$300 to $500
Bill Graham presents "The Last Waltz" The Winterland Ballroom, Thanksgiving, 1976, printed in 1977, artwork by Croci. 28 x 19 in.
$800 to $1,200
Edmund Teske, Jim Morrison and Bronson Caves in Hollywood, California, 1969. Limited Edition photograph, 12 x 14 in. Accompanied by a document concerning the provenance.
$200 to $300
Black and white photograph mounted on board, circa late 1960s, stamped on the verso. 13 x 19 in.
$1,000 to $2,000
A Guns N' Roses limited edition Fender Squier Bullett electric guitar autographed by eight current and former members of the band including Axl Rose, Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, and Gilby Clarke. Accompanied by photos of the group signing the guitar.
$300 to $500
A concert poster for Jefferson Airplane at the Pinnacle Concerts Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, Feb. 23rd-24th, 1968. Art by John Van Hamersveld, 27 x 19 in.
$600 to $800
Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock, 1969. Limited Edition photograph, signed by photographer, archivally printed from the original negative, 16 x 20 in.
A rare concert poster from the 1968 Pop Festival at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale, Miami, Fla., May 18-19 , 1968, 14 x 18 in.
$700 to $900
A V-neck T-shirt, circa 1969, with a primitive screen-printed logo of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
$700 to $900
A green Fillmore East short sleeve jersey, staff shirt, circa 1970. Accompanied by a copy of the book Vintage Rock T-Shirts.
$1,500 to $2,000
A white Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. jersey with red and blue sleeves.
$1,000 to $1,500
A white, 1969 European Tour Doors concert t-shirt with Michelin Man motif. Accompanied by a copy of the book Vintage Rock T-Shirts.
$300 to $500
A stage top hat of black felt; accompanied by a card signed and inscribed "Much Love, Enjoy, Stevie Nicks."
$300 to $500.
Three concert posters for The Police, including a rare silkscreen poster for a show at the Marquee Club in London, Jan. 22, 1978; a 1980 Japanese Tour poster; and a Wembley Arena poster circa 1983. 20 x 28 in. and smaller.
$500 to $700
A Track Records promo poster for "I Can See For Miles" circa 1967, artwork by Hapsash and the Coloured Coat, circa 1967. 20 x 30 in.
$300 to $500
A concert poster "Bill Graham presents in San Francisco: Bloom, The Who, Grateful Dead" Fillmore West, Aug. 16-18 and 23-25, 1968, artwork by Rick Griffin and Mouse Kelly. 22 x 28 in.
$15,000 to $20,000
The baseball was signed on August 15th, 1966 at D.C. Stadium in Washington D.C., and was obtained by the equipment manager for the Washington Senators baseball team. Each of his four children received a baseball signed by the Beatles. One of the baseballs disappeared in the mid-1970s, and two were sold over the years. This is the last one left.