From Brian Jones’ guitar to Mick Jagger’s jacket, Rolling Stones memorabilia from a private collection is heading to auction next month in a sale expected to raise around $1.3 million (approximately Dh4.77 million).
About 185 items, including posters, stage-worn outfits, and tickets, will be auctioned at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions’ event, “Satisfaction: The Rolling Stones Treasures from the Ali Zayeri Collection,” on December 4. Leading the sale is the late Rolling Stones co-founder Jones’ Harmony Stratotone electric guitar, estimated between $200,000-$400,000.
“It was his first electric guitar, and it’s what he played at their very early gigs, on their demos, and even on their first single, a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Come On’,” said Charles Epting, director of consignments, pop culture, and historical at Heritage Auctions.
“This is not a high-end instrument. This is what someone from the working class in the early sixties would have been able to afford, so it’s a very humble, modest instrument that paved the way for one of the greatest bands of all time.”
Many of the sale items originate from the group’s early years, Epting said. Other items belonging to Jones, who left the group in 1969 and died shortly after, include a fringed suede jacket he wore for his final live performance with the band as well as a childhood book. Also for sale are jackets worn by lead singer Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, as well as drummer Charlie Watts’ signed drumsticks.
“The high estimate on the sale is just north of 1.3 million dollars. Obviously, certain key pieces like Jones’ guitar and the jackets are hoped to find new homes and could potentially push that price even higher,” Epting stated.
“I think collector interest will be high from all parts of the world because there are few bands that transcend language, borders, and anything like the Rolling Stones.”
Highlights of the sale are on display at Heritage Auctions’ London office until November 28.
