Memorabilia linked to iconic musicians including The Beatles, Queen, and Michael Jackson are set to feature in a high-profile auction with an estimated total value of £3 million. The Propstore music memorabilia auction will showcase around 800 lots, encompassing items from various milestones in popular music history.
Among the standout pieces is a Pan American Airways menu signed by all four members of The Beatles during their inaugural flight to the United States on February 7, 1964. This item is anticipated to sell for between £40,000 and £80,000. Another significant lot is a black and gold military-style jacket worn by Michael Jackson in public appearances between 1994 and 1996. Adorned with 24-carat gold braiding, the jacket carries an estimated value ranging from £180,000 to £360,000.
Fans of Queen will have the opportunity to bid on stage-worn attire belonging to lead singer Freddie Mercury. The collection includes a black wrap-around embellished top and flared trousers from the band’s Sheer Heart Attack tour, with estimates set between £60,000 and £120,000. Additionally, Noel Gallagher’s autographed Takamine FP460SC acoustic guitar, one of two identical instruments used during Oasis’s 1996 MTV Unplugged performance at London’s Royal Festival Hall as well as on the (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now tours, is expected to fetch between £75,000 and £150,000. The guitar will be sold alongside its original stencilled Oasis case.
Other notable items include a pair of John Lennon’s tinted glasses with a valuation between £100,000 and £200,000, and glasses worn by George Michael during his Faith tour, estimated at £15,000 to £30,000. The auction also features a Vivienne Westwood kilt worn by Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones during the Filthy Lucre tour, accompanied by a signed promotional photograph of the band. This pair is expected to command prices between £5,000 and £10,000.
Mark Hochman, Propstore’s music specialist, described the event as a collection of "remarkable pieces connected to defining moments in music history." He highlighted the diverse range of items on offer, from Michael Jackson’s well-documented military jacket to Noel Gallagher’s MTV Unplugged guitar and The Beatles’ autographed menu, emphasizing the auction’s appeal across multiple music genres and generations.
The auction is scheduled to take place on October 1 and 2, with bidding accessible online through the auction house’s website, via telephone, and by absentee bid. A public exhibition of selected items will be available free of charge at The Cumberland Hotel in London from September 24 to 27.