Beatles’ handwritten lyrics for “Hey Jude,” used in the studio when they recorded the 1968 classic, sold for $910,000 at auction Friday, despite its estimated value of $160,000.
The lyrics and guitar were among more than 250 items of Beatles memorabilia offered in an online auction on Friday by Julien’s Auctions in New York to mark the 50th anniversary of the band’s breakup.
Other notable items included the drumhead from the Beatles’ 1964 concert at San Francisco’s Cow Palace ($200,000), John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bagism drawing ($93,750), a shooting script for the “Hello Goodbye” video featuring handwritten notations by Lennon and George Harrison ($83,000) and Ringo Starr’s Abbey Road ashtray ($32,000).
The sale had been due to take place online and at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, New York, but it was made online-only due to the coronavirus pandemic, the auction house said.