Beatles Drum Auction at NateDSanders.com
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Beatles drum kit at auction, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Beatles Drum Auction
In 2017, NateDSanders.com Auctions sold the original drum kit used to record The Beatles’ Very First Single ”Love Me Do”, on their debut album ”Please Please Me” — also used on ”P.S. I Love You”. Here is the description from this Beatles drum auction and a link:
The original Ludwig drum kit used for the recording of ”Love Me Do”, The Beatles’ first single on their first album ”Please Please Me”, released on 22 March 1963 and ushering in Beatlemania. The session was recorded on 11 September 1962 at EMI London, with this recording of ”Love Me Do” used on the Beatles’ first album ”Please Please Me” as well as the first Beatles U.S. release of ”Love Me Do” and the 1982 re-release of the song. In addition to ”Love Me Do”, this Ludwig drum kit is also heard on ”P.S. I Love You”, which plays on the B-side of the British single and on the ”Please Please Me” album. The kit was played by Andy White during the recording session, who played with the Fab Four that day, with Ringo playing tambourine on ”Love Me Do”. Kit comprises a 14” x 22” bass drum, 16” x 16” floor tom, 9” x 13” tom-tom (which is date-stamped 1956 inside) and 5.5” x 14” snare. Drum head is new. The original Black Diamond Pearl wrapping is present and matches exactly the photo of White playing the drum kit. From the personal collection of Clive Edwards, who studied drum playing under Reg Weller, one of Andy White’s best friends. Weller procured the kit for Edwards after White secured an endorsement deal with Ajax drums. With an LOA from Thea White, the widow of Andy White. Sold for $67,500.
Drum Kit Used to Record The Beatles’ Very First Single ”Love Me Do”, on Their Debut Album ”Please Please Me” — Also Used on ”P.S. I Love You”
Here are various pieces of Beatles memorabilia that we have sold in the past:
Exceptionally Rare Beatles Memorabilia — John Lennon Personally Owned & Played Musical Instrument — Reed Organ Made of Walnut in Dark Finish — With Provenance From Sotheby’s
Coveted instrument personally owned and played by music legend and 1960’s cultural icon John Lennon. The first time Lennon played an instrument with a keyboard on a record was for his collaboration with McCartney on 1965’s ”I’m Down”, from the B-side to Beatles single ”Help!” Mason and Hamlin brand reed organ, or pump organ, is made of walnut wood and features a dark cherry finish. Accompanied by a slip inscribed, ”Love to Julie / From John Lennon / xxxx” in red ink. Rubber lining on pedals has been replaced. Near fine. A Steinway brand piano of Lennon’s sold at Sotheby’s in 2000 for $2.1 million. Replaced rubber on the foot pedals, else near fine. With provenance from Sotheby’s including original catalog and house-issued certificate of ownership signed by Yoko Ono. We sold it for $74,535.
Click image to enlarge.
George Harrison’s sitar from 1965, almost certainly the one he used to record ”Norwegian Wood”, the Beatles song that not only launched ”The Great Sitar Explosion” in rock music, but also deepened Harrison’s involvement with Indian music, its culture and the Hindu religion that would shape the rest of his life. More than any guitar that Harrison used during his career with the Beatles and as a solo artist, the sitar is perhaps the instrument most closely associated with Harrison, who was first introduced to it in August of 1965 by David Crosby before buying his own and using it to record ”Norwegian Wood” on 12 October 1965.
Harrison’s purchase of his first sitar (sometime between August-October 1965) is best explained in his own words, from ”The Beatles Anthology”: ”I went and bought a sitar from a little shop at the top of Oxford Street called Indiacraft – it stocked little carvings, and incense. It was a real crummy-quality one, actually, but I bought it and mucked about with it a bit. Anyway, we were at the point where we’d recorded the Norwegian Wood backing track and it needed something. We would usually start looking through the cupboard to see if we could come up with something, a new sound, and I picked the sitar up – it was just lying around; I hadn’t really figured out what to do with it. It was quite spontaneous: I found the notes that played the lick. It fitted and it worked.” Over the next several months Harrison continued to play the sitar and decided to exchange his older-style ”crummy-quality one” with a more sophisticated style designed to play better into microphones.
In the meantime, Harrison married Pattie Boyd in January 1966 and left for Barbados with her for their honeymoon. While in Barbados, George and Pattie were hosted by Pattie’s friend, George Drummond, who lived on the island and to whom Harrison gave this sitar. Drummond, the Godson of King George VI whose full name is George Albert Harley de Vere Drummond, is featured in the book “Beatles ’66: The Revolutionary Year” by Steve Turner. Turner describes the events on the island leading up to the gift, ”During the days Pattie sunbathed and George practiced on his sitar. George even had a better sitar flown to Barbados for him, and when it arrived he gave his old one – probably the one he had bought from Indiacraft – to Drummond as a gift.”
The sitar is accompanied by two letters of authenticity, one from Pattie Boyd and one from George Drummond. Pattie not only confirms the authenticity of the sitar, but writes that George used it to play ”Norwegian Wood” to her on their honeymoon. She writes, ”Before we left Barbados, George Harrison gifted the Sitar to George de Vere Drummond.” Drummond’s LOA likewise confirms that Harrison gave him this sitar in February 1966 and that it’s ”remained in my possession until I consigned it to Nate D. Sanders Auctions.”
Despite Harrison’s misgivings about its sound quality, visually the sitar is a stunning display of craftsmanship, made by the sitar company of Kanai Lal & Brother of Calcutta, and was approximately 10 years old – made in the late 1940s or 1950s – when Harrison played it. Elaborate wood carvings appear on the tumba and tabkandi (similar to the headstock and body of a guitar), with the tumba formed in the shape of a swan’s neck and head. A plaque below the tumba reads, ”Kanai Lal & Brother / 377 Upper Chitpur Road / Calcutta”. Ornamentation at the top of the tabkandi shows an ancient figure playing a sitar, below which wood carvings appear in relief. More elaborate wood carvings appear on the kaddu, a bulbous, gourd-shaped area on the back of the tabkandi which serves as a resonator for the sitar. The sitar measures 53” long, 13” at its widest point and 10” deep at the kaddu. At the top of the kaddu is a label attached by George Drummond, a photo of which is laminated to the back of Pattie Boyd’s LOA, matching her letter to this piece exactly. There are a few cracks to the kaddu, otherwise the sitar is in near fine condition, fully operable and a stunning piece to behold. Sold for $62,500.
Lot of exceptional Beatles items, including a ”Please Please Me” album signed by all four, without inscription. The Beatles’ first LP, ”Please Please Me” is here signed on the verso of the album cover in blue ink by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Framed to a size of 35.5” x 23”. Not examined out of frame. Some wear to edges, light toning and discoloration. Overall in good condition. With Roger Epperson COA for all four signatures.
Lot also includes a John Lennon signed and handwritten Happy New Year card for 1978. Lennon writes, ”To Stan & Jan, Happy Holidays / love / John Yoko Sean”. Lennon then hand draws doodles, which appear to be little portraits of him, Yoko and Sean. Card measures 6.5” x 10” unfolded. Accompanied by original envelope postmarked 19 December 1977 from New York, all framed to a size of 25” x 22.25”. Not examined out of frame but card appears near fine. With Roger Epperson COA. Sold for $28,750.
Intimate Handwritten Letter by John Lennon on Transcendental Meditation — “…you are searching for ‘something’ (truth) the same as every one else – whether they know it or not. We have been lucky in meeting Maharishi…”
A personal autograph letter by John Lennon signed, “Lots of love John Lennon x”, responding to a fan’s inquiry about transcendental meditation. Lennon writes in an encouraging and unassuming manner, clearly happy to connect with a stranger about a subject he felt passionate about. Undated, though circa late 1967, letter reads in full, “Dear Jean, Thank you for your letter. It makes complete sense to me – you are searching for ‘something’ (truth) the same as everyone else – whether they know it or not. We have been lucky in meeting Maharishi – but his method is simple enough to be taught by the teachers he has taught. We are continuing our ‘lessons’ with these English teachers and I suggest you get in touch with them and find for yourself a nice bit of inner peace. The address is over-leaf. S.R.M. Foundation of Gt. Britain / 20 Grosvenor Place / London, S.W.I. / England / Lots of love, John Lennon x. Try it – it really works and it’s easy.” Letter also includes John’s partial address at top (“Kenwood, etc.”) Double-sided letter on blue writing paper measures 5.5″ x 7″. Accompanied by (1) original stamped addressed envelope postmarked Weybridge 6 September 1967; (2) letter from “Jean,” explaining that as a Beatles fan she wrote to John Lennon asking about transcendental meditation, having gotten his address from her employer, a florist who had a contract with Brian Epstein’s offices. She included a stamped addressed envelope, as was the way, in the hope it would encourage Lennon to reply. A lovely handwritten letter by Lennon displaying his accessibility and personal values of self discovery. In near fine condition with still bold writing. Accompanied by certificate of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Sold for $28,000.
Beatles Memorabilia — A Signed ”Bag One” Print — Number 150 Out of 300 — With COA From Roger Epperson
John Lennon rare signed ”Bag One” print, from the series of Lennon artwork first displayed in January 1970 at the London Art Gallery. Entitled ”Threesome”, beautifully spare lithograph features a sexually explicit scene of two women and one man, drawn in red ink to center of 22” x 29” lithograph paper. Lennon boldly signs in pencil to lower right. Numbered ”150/300” to lower left. Light foxing to right edge, else near fine. With COA from Roger Epperson. We sold it for $5,500.
John Lennon Signed ”Bag One” Print — Number 150 Out of 300 — With COA From Roger Epperson
Beatles Manager Brian Epstein Autograph Letter Signed to John Lennon — ”…Just to thank you for taking so much trouble with the selection…” — 1965
Brian Epstein autograph letter signed to Lennon. Called the ”Fifth Beatle,” Epstein managed the Fab Four before his untimely death in 1967 at age 32. Two years prior, in this letter dated 21 December 1965, he writes upon his personal BE stationery, in full, ”My Dear John, Just to thank you for taking so much trouble with the selection – I’ve kept them all and am quite [?]. Only inclusion I’d fault is the cliff – but I can keep it for P.J.B.’s visit! Have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year – thanks again. Brian”. Single page letter measures 7” x 9”. Toning, creasing and mild foxing with fading to the text on the right half of the page, overall very good. We sold it for $2,578.
Beatles Manager Brian Epstein Autograph Letter Signed to John Lennon — ”…Just to thank you for taking so much trouble with the selection…” — 1965
Scarce Beatles Memorabilia Being an Excellent Content Autograph Letter Signed — With Provenance From Sotheby’s
John Lennon autograph letter signed, ”John Lennon”. He responds to fan mail in 1968 during his trip to Rishikesh, India. It sold for $17,365.
John Lennon autograph letter signed, ”John Lennon”. He responds to fan mail in 1968 during his trip to Rishikesh, India
Beatles 1965 Concert Contract Rider Signed by Brian Epstein
In other Beatles memorabilia, we auctioned this contract rider for the Beatles 28 August 1965 concert in San Diego. It sold for $10,780.
Signed by the ”fifth Beatle,” their manager Brian Epstein. This concert was a particularly well-documented event in rock and roll history symbolizing Beatlemania.
Every Beatle brought their own personal style and talent to the mix — and each changed individually as The Beatles traveled to India together in 1968 to study transcendental meditation with the Maharishi, an experience which had a profound influence on both their music and personal lives.
Beatles Contract Rider for Their 1965 San Diego Concert Signed by Brian Epstein — The Beatles Refuse to Play Before a Segregated Audience
Beatles George Harrison Handwritten Notes on Spirituality
Here, George Harrison writes his very personal thoughts on spirituality to fellow Beatle Ringo Starr in this booklet entitled, ”Fourteen Scientific Reasons Why No One Dies.” It sold for $8,908.
George Harrison’s Personal, Hand-Annotated Booklet on Spiritual Regeneration Given to Ringo Starr — With Notes on The Beatles — ”I was in the greatest show on Earth” — Epperson COA
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Beatles drum kit at auction, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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