Cash auction brings in nearly $4m

A 1986 Grammy award was the most expensive item in a three-day auction of the estate of Johnny Cash and his wife that captured nearly $4 million (€3.3 million), more than double its pre-sale estimate.

The Grammy, for best spoken word or non-musical recording, was awarded to Cash and several colleagues and sold for $187,580 (€154,004), Sotheby’s said. The total raised was $3,984,260.

Many of Cash’s instruments inspired heated competition among bidders: An abalone-inlaid acoustic guitar sold on Tuesday for $131,000 (€107,555), and a Black Martin guitar sold on Thursday for the same price. A Gibson Mastertone banjo owned by Cash’s wife, June Carter Cash, fetched $8,400 (€6,896).