George Harrison's 1963 Maton Guitar Sells at Auction for $485,000

The guitar George Harrison once played during the Beatles live summer performances in 1963, sold at Julien's Auctions on Friday for $485,000. The auction at New York's Hard Rock Café closely focused on rare belongings within music history. Michael Jackson's black sequined glove and a Madonna worn American flag tank top as well as Elvis Presley's marriage license and tour bus were also auctioned off.

According to Fox News, Harrison's Maton guitar was a lend-out from Barratt's Music Store during a time when his routine Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar was undergoing repair. Harrison strummed the strings over a total of 12 July and August concerts including one show in the Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, notes Rolling Stone.

The Maton eventually made its way back to the music store where it sat in storage for two months before meeting its new owner, Roy Barber of Dave Berry and the Cruisers. It was later auctioned off by Barber's widow at Sotheby's. Down the road 13 years, the guitar found its way back on the auction block and was expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000.

One year ago at Julien's Auction, Harrison's 1962 Rickenbacker 425, which was used in the Beatles' "This Boy," was sold for $657,000--exceeding its estimated sale price of $600,000 by $57,000. The Rickenbacker also made an appearance during the Beatles first performance of Ready Steady Go! and on Thank Your Lucky Stars.

Friday's auction included an array of celebrity items from Jimi Hendrix's embroidered suede vest, Britney Spears' bra from the "Overprotected" video as well as Madonna's American flag tank top, which sold for $25,600.

The license certifying the marriage between Priscilla and Elvis Presley sold for above $41,000 but Presley's 40-foot, 1976 MCI Crusader tour bus adorned with the "Takin' Care of Business" logo triumphed the marriage license sale for a price of $263,000.

Tags

George Harrison, Elvis Presley, The Beatles