John Lennon and George Harrison electric guitar to be auctioned

By Randy Lewis

March 22, 2013 12 AM PT

A Vox electric guitar said to have been played by John Lennon and George Harrison, jewelry given by Elvis Presley to associates and an autographed pillow Michael Jackson threw to a fan from a Paris hotel window are among a bevy of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia items coming up for auction May 18 in New York.

The one-of-a-kind Vox guitar was played by Lennon during a video recording session for the song “Hello Goodbye,” and by Harrison while he was practicing “I Am the Walrus” for the “Magical Mystery Tour” film, according to Julien’s Auctions, which will host the sale at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. It is expected to fetch $200,000 to $300,000. Lennon subsequently gave the guitar to friend “Magic Alex” Mardas, who accompanied the Beatles on their trip to India to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

“It’s extraordinary when you have the opportunity to offer such an amazing piece of music history as the Vox guitar played by both George Harrison and John Lennon,” said Julien’s Executive Director Martin Nolan said in a statement. “This guitar is truly one of the most historical pieces of music memorabilia Julien’s Auctions has ever had the pleasure of offering.”

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The auction will include other Beatles-related items including copies of the “Butcher” album cover of the 1966 “Yesterday…and Today” album estimated to sell for up to $20,000, a copy of the “Please Please Me” album signed by all four Beatles that could go as high as $50,000 and a copy with all four signatures of Lennon’s book “In His Own Write” ($20,000 to $30,000).

Other items include a cape created for Presley for his “Aloha From Hawaii” satellite TV special in 1973, estimated to bring $120,000 to $140,000, a ring and a wristwatch he gave to friends, six jumpsuits from “Partridge Family” co-star and teen heartthrob David Cassidy, the Michael Jackson pillow ($2,000 to $4,000) and a jacket the King of Pop wore for a meeting with Nelson Mandela estimated to be worth $4,000 to $6,000.

Julien’s “Music Icons 2013” auction also will include items from the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna and other pop and rock stars. The full catalog can be viewed at www.juliensauctions.com. Items will be on view to the public from May 13-18 at the Times Square Hard Rock Café, while the Vox guitar will be exhibited April 16 to May 8 at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge Silverware in Kildare, Ireland.

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Follow Randy Lewis on Twitter: @RandyLewis2