When we first reported last October that late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay‘s legendary collection was heading to Christie’s, the details were still hazy. Now, with the sale weeks away, all 44 lots for the marquee Hall of Fame live auction on March 12th are confirmed, including Jerry Garcia‘s custom Doug Irwin-built “Tiger” guitar, estimated at $1–2 million. Total pre-sale estimates approach $40 million.
“Tiger”—Garcia’s primary instrument throughout the ’80s—leads a field of cultural artifacts that may represent the greatest single auction of rock ‘n’ roll history ever assembled, though it’s actually not the highest-valued guitar in the sale. That distinction goes to Kurt Cobain‘s Competition Mustang, the battered 1969 Fender he played in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video, estimated at $2.5–5 million. David Gilmour‘s “Black Strat” follows at $2–4 million. Garcia’s McIntosh MC2300 “Budman” amplifier is also in the sale, with an estimated value of $200K–$400K.
Other guitars featured in the auction include Eric Clapton‘s psychedelic “The Fool” Gibson SG and his MTV Unplugged Martin 000-42 (both estimated at $800K–$1.2M); George Harrison‘s Gibson SG Standard used 1966–68 (estimated at $800K–$1.2M); John Lennon‘s Rose-Morris Rickenbacker from The Beatles‘ 1964–65 Christmas shows (estimated at $800K–$1.2M) and Gretsch 6120 from the “Paperback Writer” sessions (estimated at $600K–$800K); David Gilmour’s Martin D-35 used to record “Wish You Were Here” (estimated at $800K–$1.2M); Prince‘s “Yellow Cloud” guitar; and axes owned by Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, The Edge, and Paul McCartney, among others.
Photo via Christie’s: Ring Starr’s logo drum head used for The Beatles’ 1964 debut on The Ed Sullivan Show
Beyond the guitars, The Beatles account for a remarkable chunk of the sale. Two lots sit at $1–2 million each: Ringo Starr‘s first Ludwig drum kit, used from May 1963 through February 1964, and the logo drum head from the band’s historic Ed Sullivan Show debut in 1964. The Broadwood upright piano on which Lennon composed “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, “A Day in the Life”, and “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” (estimated at $400K–$600K) and Paul McCartney’s handwritten “Hey Jude” lyrics (estimated at $600K–$1M) are also included, as is the affidavit McCartney filed to legally dissolve The Beatles, with John Lennon’s handwritten annotations scrawled in the margins (estimated at $100K–$150K).
The trove of cultural treasures extends beyond just music memorabilia. Secretariat‘s race-used 1973 Triple Crown saddle from jockey Ron Turcotte‘s personal collection (estimated at $1.5–3 million) is one of the more jaw-dropping estimates in the entire sale. Muhammad Ali‘s weigh-in robe from Ali vs. Liston II (estimated $150K–$250K), Jackie Robinson‘s 1953 game bat (estimated at $250K–$350K), and Wayne Gretzky‘s Oilers jersey photo-matched to his 500th career goal and Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals (estimated at $300K–$500K) round out the sports highlights.
Photos via Christie’s: Jack Kerouac’s original On the Road manuscript; “Wilson” volleyball prop from Cast Away; Wayne Gretzky Oilers jersey
Jack Kerouac‘s original 120-foot typescript scroll of On the Road (estimated at $2.5–4 million) is the second-highest estimated lot in the sale. Two Steve Jobs items—a spiritual letter written the day before his 19th birthday (estimated at $200K–$500K) and a signed Apple II manual (estimated at $300K–$800K)—are also included, along with Bob Dylan‘s handwritten lyrics for “The Times They Are A-Changin'” (estimated at $500K–$800K), Jim Morrison‘s handwritten notebook from circa 1969 (estimated at $100K–$200K), Sylvester Stallone‘s handwritten Rocky script notebook (estimated at $200K–$400K), the Cast Away “Wilson” volleyball (estimated $60K–$80K), John Coltrane‘s saxophone (estimated at $40K–60K), and Hunter S. Thompson‘s actual “Red Shark”—the 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Convertible from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (estimated at $100K–$150K).
When the auction was first announced, several other items from Irsay’s collection were mentioned as likely inclusions that did not appear in the confirmed lot list—most notably instruments connected to Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan’s Newport Folk Festival Stratocaster.
The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame live auction is set to take place at Christie’s New York on March 12th at 5:00 p.m. ET. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity. To view all 44 lots and for information on bidding and registration, head here.