Beatles Guitar Going Up for Auction

By Jon Blistein | Rolling Stone – Thu, Mar 21, 2013 9:55 AM EDT

A custom-built VOX guitar played by not just one, but two Beatles around the time of Magical Mystery Tour will be up for auction this May, Reuters reports.

Expected to sell between $200,000 and $300,000 at Julien's Auctions, John Lennon and George Harrison both played the guitar: The latter used it to practice "I Am the Walrus" in 1967, while the former played it during a video taping for "Hello, Goodbye," later that year.

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The centerpiece of the upcoming "Music Icons" auction set for May 18th in New York, Julien's Auctions said the guitar was given to Apple Records electronics engineer Yanni "Magic Alex" Mardas in 1967. Julien's executive director, Martin Nolan, called the instrument "one of the most historical pieces of music memorabilia" ever offered by the house.

The auction will also include a few other Beatles-related items including a copy of their 1963 debut Please Please Me, signed by all four members (estimated price: $30,000 to $50,000), and a copy of Lennon's 1964 illustrated story book In His Own Write, also signed by the band (estimated up to about $30,000).

The auction will also include items and memorabilia from Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, the Grateful Dead, David Bowie and David Cassidy. Before the VOX guitar makes its way to NYC, it will be on display at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland.

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This article originally appeared on Rolling Stone: Beatles Guitar Going Up for Auction

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