Top 5 John Lennon memorabilia ever sold

The top 5 John Lennon memorabilia ever sold includes instruments, lyrics and an infamous necklace...

Top 5 John Lennon memorabilia ever sold

Kenwood, John Lennon's Weybridge home is on the market for £15m, a good £9m clear of similar properties in the exclusive St George's Hill private estate - confirmation of the continuing allure of the former Beatle today.

So is this the ultimate piece of Beatles memorabilia?

Here's Paul Fraser Collectibles' guide to the Top 5 pieces of John Lennon memorabilia ever sold.

Talisman necklace

Lennon's Talisman necklace can be seen on both censored and uncensored versions of the album

The necklace worn by Lennon on the notorious cover of his 1968 album with Yoko Ono, Two Virgins, sold at auction in 2008 for $528,000.

Later editions of the album obscured the cover's eye-watering depiction of John and Yoko naked, protecting their modesty beneath a brown paper bag.

Lennon's collaborative debut with Yoko, Two Virgins is best described as avant garde in content.

Mark Chapman's signed Lennon album

John's last autograph

When Lennon signed a copy of his Double Fantasy album for a fan on the morning of December 8, 1980 he had just hours left to live.

That fan was Mark Chapman, who returned later that evening to the Dakota building where Lennon lived and cemented his own dark place in music history by shooting dead his idol.

The signed album was not only Lennon's last ever signature but also a crucial part of evidence in Chapman's trial, as it featured his fingerprints.

It was sold in 1999 for $165,000 by the maintenance man who found it in a planter next to the residence.

A Day in The Life handwritten lyrics

Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for A Day in The Life, a leading track from the Beatles' Sgt Pepper LP, auctioned in 2010.

Featuring Lennon's cross-outs and corrections they sold for $1.2m.

Lennon's autograph grew in value from £695 ($1,080) in 2000 to £6,250 ($9,725) in 2011, at the rate of 22.10% pa, according to the PFC40 Autograph Index.

Imagine Steinway piano

The Steinway Model Z piano on which Lennon composed Imagine - his greatest hit as a solo artist - sold for $2.1m to singer George Michael in 2000, who beat fellow bidders Robbie Williams and Liam and Noel Gallagher in the process.

The cigarette-burned upright piano should not be confused with the white grand piano used in the video.

Hand painted Rolls Royce Phantom V

Complete with double bed option

Lennon had his matte black Rolls Royce repainted with psychedelic scrolls and flowers in 1965.

He also had the rear seat modified to convert to a double bed, and installed a sound system, television and fridge.

The car was bought by Canadian businessman Jim Pattison in 1985 for $2.2m, making it the world's most expensive piece of music memorabilia - depending on whether you include houses or not!

Recent and related articles

·  Beatles Cavern Club poster up 83.3% on estimate | 13 June 2012

·  'Reversed' Beatles Abbey Road photo up 77% on estimate | 23 May 2012

·  Beatles autographed flight menu soars to $9,473 | 21 May 2012

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