Shaping culture and breaking barriers
John Lennon's handwritten 'All You Need is Love' lyric manuscript. The song was performed live by the Beatles for the 'Our World' global television broadcast on June 25, 1967.
Marilyn Monroe's government ID card, one of the more unusual items of memorabilia associated with the legendary actress.
A signed Led Zeppelin album cover. Drummer John Bonham died on September 15, 1980. The group disbanded shortly afterwards.
Christopher Reeve's Superman costume. Reeve played the superhero three times, in 'Superman' (1978), 'Superman II' (1980), and 'Superman III' (1983). The actor died on October 10, 2004, nine years after breaking his neck in a horse riding accident.
Madonna's 1981 rejection letter. It reads in part: "I do not feel that she is ready yet, but I do hear the basis of a strong artist."
The original trademark bowler hat and a cane owned by Charlie Chaplin. The actor's screen persona, "The Tramp," is considered a cinematic and cultural icon.
Costumes from the HBO drama series 'The Sopranos,' including those worn by the character Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini. The show made a huge cultural impact, and helped transform the TV landscape.
Michael Jackson's white rhinestone spandex glove used on several occasions in the late 1970s by the pop star. Jackson's death in 2009 was also blamed on over-prescription of medication by a personal physician, in this case Conrad Murray, who was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
A Nike Mercurial Vapor football boot signed by soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international and Juventus forward is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Whitney Houston's ring worn in the film 'The Bodyguard' (1992). On February 11, 2012, the singer was found dead in her Beverly Hills hotel room after accidentally drowning in the bathtub.
A slice of royal wedding cake from the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
A Walt Disney-signed opening day guidebook produced for the inauguration of Disneyland, on July 17, 1955. The theme park today is known as Disneyland Park.
The hat from worn by actor Sylvester Stallone in the film 'Cop Land' (1997). For his role as downtrodden Sheriff Freddy Heflin, Stallone gained 18 kg (40 lbs).
A member of Christie's auction house staff in London holds a clapper board signed by Daniel Craig and used in the Bond film 'Spectre' (2015).
A baseball signed by American baseball legend Babe Ruth. George Herman Ruth first made his name as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. But it was his time with the New York Yankees as a batter that solidified his reputation as one of baseball's greats.
Magic Johnson's signed LA Lakers basketball shoes. One of the most celebrated players in NBA history, Johnson made headlines around the world in 1991 after announcing he was HIV positive.
Steve McQueen's rare 1920 Indian Powerplus 'Daytona' racing motorcycle. McQueen, Hollywood's "King of Cool," amassed a sizable collection of cars and motorbikes throughout his career, and raced competitively.
Slash's trademark studded top hat. The Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver musician is regularly cited as one of the best guitarists in rock history.
An emerald and diamond necklace and an emerald and diamond pendant brooch by Bvlgari, which belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. The actress, known for her tempestuous relationship with Richard Burton, was also known for her love of expensive jewelry.
The Golden Globe Award won by actor John Wayne for his role as Marshal Rooster Cogburn in 'True Grit' (1969). The "Duke" also took home an Academy Award for Best Actor for his effort.
A handcrafted bird's eye maple cigarette case owned by Greta Garbo. The Swedish actress shunned publicity and led a very private life.
A rare pair of Cassius Clay autographed boxing gloves. On March 6, 1964 Cassius Clay became known as Muhammad Ali and was soon feted as the greatest boxer of all time.
A 1978 clipping from the Evening Press which carries the first press mention of U2. The Irish band had formed two years earlier and made the paper after winning a talent contest in Limerick.
A Christie's specialist holds a dollar bill which has been signed by Andy Warhol. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol made a significant impact on media and culture, especially throughout the 1960s.
A first edition copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' by J.K. Rowling, annotated by the author and revealing her own commentary and illustrations. A publishing phenomenon, Rowling was worth US$60 million as of 2020, according to Forbes.
Ringo Starr's signed and inscribed customized drumhead. The former Beatle is today notoriously reticent in signing autographs, and this 2020 example is a rare exception.
A pair of the NBA legend's “regularly” worn underwear, which apparently show signs of “heavy use,” were sold by Leland's auctioneers for just US$3,340.80. The item's description boasts that these boxers are "about as close to greatness as one can get"! The shorts are part of a sale of Jordan’s belongings that his one-time bodyguard, John Michael Wozniak, got his hands on—though how he ended up with Jordan's heavily used boxers remains a mystery.
The guitar that was involved in the breaking up of the English rock band Oasis went up for auction in May. Artpèges announced that Noel Gallagher's 1960 Gibson ES 355, which Liam smashed at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris in 2009 on the night the band broke up, sold for US$405,000, after a starting bid of $190,000. The guitar was repaired in 2011 but remains part of a cult-music-history moment. The rare piece of music memorabilia was accompanied by an original note from Noel stating that it was his favorite guitar used for shows and recording, Hypebeast reports.
An angry three-page letter John Lennon sent to Paul McCartney in the '70s was sold at auction for US$70,000 (a winning bid of US$56,000, plus the buyer's premium of US$14,000) following a 17-day bidding war in August, TMZ reports. The typed letter was sent to McCartney more than a year after the Beatles had broken up, while the four members were still haggling over royalties and division of assets. Lennon wrote it in response to an interview McCartney did with the magazine Melody Maker in which he glossed over the issues they were having. One line reads, "It's all very well playing 'simple, honest ole' human Paul' in the Melody Maker, but you know damn well we can't just sign a bit of paper." Lennon continues to berate McCartney in the letter for how he handled the band's breakup and his apparent dissatisfaction with the significant amount of money he was earning. In addition to the fascinating typed content, the letter also includes some handwritten notes by Lennon as well as his signature.
A rare early collection of poems written by Bob Dylan in the 1960s. Dylan was one of the first singer-songwriters to take an active role on moral issues by uniting people through music.
The timing was certainly one of the most remarkable parts of Shanna Moakler's decision to auction off the engagement ring with which Travis Barker proposed to her. The famed drummer's ex-wife, who is a model, pageant winner, and actress, put the Cartier ring up for auction on Worthy, an online jewelry resale platform, and told Us Weekly that she was hoping to get US$120,000 for the flashy piece, which features a 4.01-carat solitaire-cut diamond surrounded by smaller 1.04-carat stones. The news came just days after Barker tied the knot with Kourtney Kardashian in Portofino on May 22. In the end, the ring sold for us JU$96,000.
A Kobe Bryant signed and game worn jersey. Kobe's death, in a January 26, 2020 helicopter crash in which his 13-year-old daughter Gianna also perished, shocked the sporting world.
Sources: (The Guardian) (BBC) (Forbes) (Esquire)
See also: Celebrity items put up for auction
Celebrity memorabilia has always fascinated the masses. The once private and personal possessions of movie stars, singers, and sports personalities suddenly becoming available at auction invariably creates a buzz, especially if items are autographed or annotated. And among some truly rare and remarkable collectibles are those that stand out simply for their unusual novelty value.
In 2021, a slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake from 1981 was sold at auction. Several such slices have been saved in commemorative tins from the unhappy couple's wedding, as well as other significant royal weddings. The 41-year-old cake can be surprisingly valuable! Other slices saved from their wedding (where there were a whopping 23 cakes for their 3,500 guests) have sold for more than US$2,000 at auction. However, on this occasion, the auctioneers overestimated what royal enthusiasts would be willing to pay. It was offered with an estimated price of £200-300 (US$225-US$335), but ended up selling for a measly £170, or US$190. This particular slice of cake may have been less appealing than those which were previously auctioned for larger sums, as it didn't include a decorative coat of arms or one of the other impressive features of the luxurious historical cakes.
Click through for a look at more of the weirdest and rarest celebrity curios ever to go under the hammer.
Weirdest and rarest celebrity memorabilia ever auctioned
A slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake was auctioned off for a steal
CELEBRITY Collectibles
Celebrity memorabilia has always fascinated the masses. The once private and personal possessions of movie stars, singers, and sports personalities suddenly becoming available at auction invariably creates a buzz, especially if items are autographed or annotated. And among some truly rare and remarkable collectibles are those that stand out simply for their unusual novelty value.
In 2021, a slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake from 1981 was sold at auction. Several such slices have been saved in commemorative tins from the unhappy couple's wedding, as well as other significant royal weddings. The 41-year-old cake can be surprisingly valuable! Other slices saved from their wedding (where there were a whopping 23 cakes for their 3,500 guests) have sold for more than US$2,000 at auction. However, on this occasion, the auctioneers overestimated what royal enthusiasts would be willing to pay. It was offered with an estimated price of £200-300 (US$225-US$335), but ended up selling for a measly £170, or US$190. This particular slice of cake may have been less appealing than those which were previously auctioned for larger sums, as it didn't include a decorative coat of arms or one of the other impressive features of the luxurious historical cakes.
Click through for a look at more of the weirdest and rarest celebrity curios ever to go under the hammer.