Bonhams will pay tribute to the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night on its 50th anniversary in London on June 25, with a tailored suit owned by John Lennon expected to top a sale dedicated to music memorabilia.
 The black dinner suit was apparently returned to the tailors for alterations and later given to them by Lennon himself |
A Hard Day's Night was the band's first feature film, released at the very height of Beatlemania to international success. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential musical films of all time, and memorabilia from this period continues to be some of the most valuable from the Beatles.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fully signed copy of A Hard Day's Night for sale, which is one of only 8-10 known to exist and, as far as we know, the only example available on the market.
The suit was made especially for John Lennon to wear in the film and is sold with a letter of provenance from the tailors to state it was part of a larger order for A Hard Day's Night. With Lennon's name written on the trousers, it will sell with a £20,000-30,000 ($33,000-50,000) estimate.
 The dress is signed by all four Beatles and Brian Epstein; the vendor was invited to the reception at the Dorchester Hotel following the premiere |
The lot will be followed by a Beatles dress, which was worn by a programme seller at the world premiere of the film in London. A rare piece given to only a select group, it is enhanced by signatures from John, Paul, George, Ringo and band manager Brian Epstein, which the vendor acquired while attending the reception at the Dorchester Hotel following the premiere.
Never offered for sale before, the dress is valued at £10,000-15,000 ($17,000-25,000) and is sure to see strong competition.
The top lot of the sale is a cherry red Gibson SG Special guitar owned and played by Pete Townshend of the Who, who writes in a letter of authenticity "…it must be one of the few passing through my hands, which has survived without getting smashed…"
It is valued at £30,000-40,000 ($50,000-67,000).
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