Thursday, 22 September 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 271764.stm
John Lennon White Suit from Abbey Road Album Cover
A two-piece ivory wool blend suit worn by John Lennon as he appeared on the cover of the final Beatles album Abbey Road (Capitol Records, 1969).
Consisting of a two button jacket having maker's medallion and chain at inner left pocket reading: "Tedd/6 Place Victor Hugo/Paris" and matching flat front pants having label reading: "Tedd/6, Place Victor-Hugo-Paris/John Lennon." Also present is facsimile copy of a letter of authenticity.
The indelible single file image of The Beatles crossing the street outside London's Abbey Road Studios transpired in a brief, impromptu half hour session between one of their final recording sessions in August 1969. Paul McCartney recalls the session, "The crossing was right outside, and we said, 'Let's just go out, get a photographer and walk out on the crossing. It'll be done in half an hour.' It was getting quite late and you always have to get the cover in ahead of the sound. So we got hold of the photographer Iain Macmillan, gave him a half hour and walked across the crossing."
Lennon remembers, "We were just wishing the photographer would hurry up. Too many people were hanging around…We're meant to be recording, not posing for Beatle pictures -- that's what we were thinking. And, I was muttering, Come on, hurry up now, keep in step." (Both excerpts from "The Beatles Anthology," Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2000, page 341 & 342). The suit was gifted from Lennon to close friend Richard Ross; the owner of the famed New York club and restaurant, Home.
The final Abbey Road re-mix on August 20th would be the last time all four Beatles would share the same studio space.
Est. $100,000-150,000
John Lennon Austin Princess from "Imagine"
A black 1956 Austin Princess Limousine Hearse owned and used by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in "Imagine" (Joko, 1973). The interior features a black leather front bench seat; four custom airline seats (two rows of two, later mounted in back); steering wheel having coat-of-arms logo at center; odometer reading: 41158; finished burl wood dash board; silver plaque reading: "Arthur Mulliner Ltd./North Hampton." Exterior having black finish (most likely original); front and rear English and American license plates; English reading: "GNH 240," Californian reading: "EMAJIN," chrome fenders, luggage rack and hardware throughout. Also present is the London registration form having Lennon's signature as registered owner, stamped August 3 and 26, 1971 and a facsimile copy of a letter of authenticity.
This modified Limousine Hearse can prominently be seen in "Imagine" (Joko, 1973); a film created to promote Lennon's Capitol Records LP bearing the same name. The surreal, half-fiction footage features a day in the life of Lennon and Ono, composed to music of Lennon's "Imagine" album as well as Ono's avant garde "Fly" (Rykodisc, 1971). Lennon co-directed the film with Steve Gebhardt, who previously worked with the he and Yoko on "Ten for Two" (Vaughan Films, 1971) and the short film "Fly."
A white suit worn by John Lennon on the cover of the Beatles' Abbey Road album is to be sold at auction next month.
Lennon wore the suit in 1969 for the photograph, which had the band mid-stride on a pedestrian crossing in the London street of the title.
US auction house Julien's expects it to reach up to $150,000 (£83,500) in a memorabilia sale closing on 29 October.
Also up for sale is a hearse owned by Lennon, which featured in Imagine, the 1973 documentary about the musician.
The outfits worn by the band were pored over by Beatles fans at the time of the album's released because of false rumours that Paul McCartney had died.
"This iconic white suit fuelled rumours that Lennon represented a clergyman in McCartney's funeral procession," said Laura Woolley, of Julien's Auctions.
In reality, the Beatles appeared in the clothes they happened to wear to that day's recording session.
Lennon's customised 1956 Austin Princess hearse has a licence plate which reads "Imagine".
It is expected to sell for up to $300,000 (£167,000).
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Lennon items will go to campaign group Amnesty International.
