Beatles guitar to go for auction in NY

A recently-discovered guitar, played by George Harrison and John Lennon during Beatles recording sessions, will go under the hammer at Christie’s in New York, the auction house said today.

The Gibson SG guitar will be among the largest ever auction of rock and entertainment memorabilia, being held next month.

Also among the 400 lots is a union agreement signed by the Beatles before their legendary performance on the Ed Sullivan show.

Harrison gave the Gibson electric guitar to Peter Ham of the rock band Badfinger in 1969 and upon Ham’s death in 1974, the guitar was stored away for 28 years by John Ham, his brother.

The guitar was re-discovered when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame contacted John in preparation for a Badfinger retrospective in 2002 – and has been on loan to the Hall of Fame, in Ohio, for the past two years.

Harrison, who died in 2001, played the instrument from 1966-1969, and used it during the Revolver recording sessions.

Lennon also played the guitar during the White Album sessions in 1969.

Also on sale are the 1964 applications to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) signed by the Beatles before appearing on the Ed Sullivan show.

The performance on the popular American show attracted one of the largest ever US television audiences.

Another intriguing item under the hammer is a 1991 letter written by troubled Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, describing his hallucinations after taking LSD

Cobain wrote the letter three years before committing suicide at the age of 27.

The 400 lots will be auctioned in New York on December 17.