A Christie’s auction of guitars and memorabilia from Johnny Marr’s personal collection totalled £3,649,280, more than three times the pre-sale estimate, according to the auction house. The 111-lot sale, titled Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, drew registered bidders from 34 countries, with Christie’s saying 81% were new to the auction house, and ran more than five hours.
The top lot was Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, associated with his work in The Smiths, which sold for £358,400 against an estimate of £60,000-£80,000. A 1960 Gibson ES-355 that Sire Records founder Seymour Stein bought for Marr in 1984 fetched £204,800, matching the price paid for a 1984 Cherry Gibson Les Paul Standard. A Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar used on the ‘No Time to Die’ soundtrack sold for £46,080.
Hammer proceeds from 31 of the lots, covering ten guitars, 1980s concert posters and award trophies, will be split between the UK charities Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Autistic Society. Marr’s new album, ‘The Age of Everything,’ is due October 2 via BMG, ahead of tour dates in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile in late November.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Hannah Schweiger, christies.com.