April 20, 2006 11:10

John Lennon’s schoolbook fetches mammoth sum

The legend’s ‘My Anthology’ goes under the hammer

John Lennon’s schoolbook sold for a mammoth £126,500 last night at an auction in London (April 19).

The book, entitled ‘My Anthology’, belonged to the Beatle when he was 12 years old, and contained his thoughts, drawings and poems.

The lot exceeded its reserve price of £100,000 at the event, which took place at Madame Tussauds.

"It was a fantastic sale and it is fitting that one of the earliest items from Britain's greatest songwriter has fetched such a significant amount," said auction-house Cooper Owen’s Director of Acquisitions Ted Owen. "The school book is a unique item of huge importance to Beatles collectors."

'My Anthology' also contained an illustration entitled 'The Walrus And The Carpenter', which sellers claim reveals an early inspiration behind The Beatles’ classic song 'I Am The Walrus'.

In other key lots, Lennon’s christening bracelet fetched £28,000, while his jacket which was worn at The Beatles’ Shea Stadium gig went for £10,000.

A 1966 Rickenbacker guitar owned by The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn went under the hammer for £110,000, a Gibson guitar belonging to Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones was bought for £40,000 and Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin' 1984 worn wedding dress was snapped up for £7,000.