For years, a TV commercial has been using the line, “What’s in your wallet?” It’s meant to suggest the company’s credit card could be of exceptional value to the user. For far more years, I’ve been asking readers “What’s in your attic or basement?” for a more exciting reason. It’s because, every now and then, someone who takes the time to check hits the jackpot....
It happened again earlier this year when the parents of a family in England were selling their home. The attic was loaded with items including an old Framus 12-string guitar given to the father. The father had been a manager for the popular ‘60s rock duo, Peter & Gordon. Gordon was a friend of Beatle John Lennon who helped write some of the duos hit songs. In addition to the songs, Lennon gifted Gordon with his Framus guitar. In turn, Gordon later gave the guitar to the manager. Eventually, he stuck it in his attic.
It’s fair to assume the man hadn’t given it much thought, particularly after the death of John Lennon. Maybe he forgot about it. Or, he may have figured, with the famous Beatle no longer around to play the instrument, what value might it have? That’s like wondering the value of the handwritten Gettysburg Address once Lincoln was no longer around to read it aloud.
The existence of the guitar was well known but its whereabouts not. There were multiple photos of the instrument and its case in studio sessions with The Beatles. It can also be heard on many songs including HELP, I’ve Just Seen A Face, and You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away. George Harrison played it on Norwegian Wood. For six decades it was assumed to have been lost in the shuffle. Long gone. Until now. In a dilapidated case, the guitar turned up in the family’s attic.
Experts from Julien’s Auctions were called. They were wary but willing to check it out. They checked the story and the guitar’s serial number. They matched. They also compared photos of the guitar with unique details on the instrument including swirls in the pick guard. It was the real deal.
Not long ago, a John Lennon guitar sold at auction for around $2.5 million. Could this new find have similar results? In this age of excess investment cash combined with a lost piece of legendary Beatle memorabilia, the sky’s the limit. It’s actually expected to set a world record. The sale is slated for May 29. More info and photos can be found at www.JuliensAuctions.com.
Back on US soil, Randy Guijarro, an eagle-eye collector of old photos and coins, stopped by an antique store while driving in California. There, he found three small black and white photos showing scenes from the era of the old west. He purchased them for two-dollars and returned home.
Upon closer examination, Randy noticed what seemed a familiar face in one of the shots. The individual was leaning on a croquet mallet in front of an old schoolhouse. The investigation ensued. Randy dug deep. He was able to identify others in the photo. He even found the original old building in the photo in New Mexico. It is still standing and recognizable.
Randy is convinced the individual in the photo is none other than Billy The Kid. Others who have seen it agree. That would be incredible for multiple reasons. First, the photo he found is an original. Second, it would be only the second confirmed photo of the notorious outlaw. Third, if genuine, the value is estimated to be north of five million dollars.
So, is the man in the photo truly the famous outlaw? There are a lot of “what ifs” and doubts. Some point out there is no direct provenance connecting the photo to Billy The Kid. Others note the figure is slightly blurry and taken from far away. They contend two-dimensional facial recognition of such a picture is unreliable.
There is a bigger fly in the ointment. Billy the Kid was shot and killed in 1881. According to local records, the building in the photo wasn’t built until 1898 – years after Billy’s death. In fairness, old records from remote rural locales can often be wrong. There’s still hope.
The investigation continues. With five million dollars in play there’s a lot at stake. Randy may just get lucky. After all, as we’ve just learned, you never know when lady luck may be playing your tune.
For more collecting information and advice, log on to: http://prexford.com/.