JOHN LENNON’S ALBUM COVER SKETCH TO BE AUCTIONED

New York: An original sketch by The Beatles artist John Lennon for the cover of the famous “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album is expected to fetch up to $60,000 when it goes under the hammer in the US.

The drawing was found in a sketchbook that was found at Lennon’s former home in England, where he lived with his first wife Cynthia starting in 1964. Lennon wrote several Beatles hits in the Surrey mansion, as well as much of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The early album artwork sketch features a bass drum emblazoned with the LP’s title and is estimated to be worth between $40,000 and $60,000. Along with the Sgt Pepper sketch, the auction will feature other Beatles memorabilia including a Lennon-signed “Please Please Me” album cover, a George Harrison-signed Fender guitar used by the Beatle and a program page from 1963, which all four members of the Beatles autographed.

A number of Beach Boys items are also set to hit the auction block including photographs, manuscripts, handwritten notes and lyrics, music sheets and band contracts, “The Rolling Stones” reported.

Several Elvis Presley items will also be up for sale, including his first piano and the King’s chest X-ray.

Other highlights include Prince’s handwritten notes and lyrics, the zoot suit David Bowie wore in the short film Jazzin’ for Blue Jean, a Rickenbacker guitar used by the Edge, Eric Clapton and Morrissey. The auction will take place on May 20 in New York.