Buddy Holly Watch Brings $155,350 At Heritage

DALLAS, TEXAS

:Heritage Auction Galleries' recent auction of celebrity, music and entertainment memorabilia realized $1,531,494, with 1,663 lots offered, not including after-auction sales.

"To say that I'm thrilled with these results would be a gross understatement," said Doug Norwine, director of entertainment auctions for Heritage. "This was one of our most successful auctions to date, with new bidders coming out of the woodwork to vie for some of these once-in-a-lifetime treasures."

The star of the show was Buddy Holly's 14K white gold wristwatch, according to Norwine, "the same watch he was wearing on that tragic 'day the music died.' Given to him by his bride, Maria Elena, it was inscribed to Buddy on the back. The watch, which realized $155,350, was won by an anonymous West Coast collector who is a lifelong Buddy Holly fan."

Another exciting lot in the Buddy Holly collection was the musician's passport, which, according to Norwine, was issued in 1958 prior to Holly's legendary tour of Europe with The Crickets. "With Buddy's photo and signature, this is an important and very desirable document," said Norwine. The passport fetched $26,290.

"Causing almost as much excitement as the Buddy Holly material was Kurt Cobain's Mosrite Gospel guitar, which we were pleased to offer for a second time from a new owner," said Norwine. Selling for $131,450, the guitar was one of only two known examples of this particular model. "The collector that purchased it from our prior auction felt it was time to return it to the collecting community and we were excited to be able to present it again," said Norwine.

A total of $38,837 was realized for the Beatles Yesterday And Today Livingston copy sealed first state mono "Butcher cover" LP from 1966. "Beatles fans were thrilled with the opportunity to bid on a sealed copy of the legendary 'Butcher cover' album," Norwine added, "this one from the personal collection of Capitol Records President Alan Livingston. Still in its original shrink-wrap and in perfect mint condition, this represents the ultimate album for the serious Beatles collector."

Other highlights of the auction included Motown bassist James Jamerson's German upright bass, $26,290; Beach Boys Articles of Incorporation (1964), $22,705; The Beatles vintage signed UK prototype poster, 1963, $20,315; Peggy Sue ring, record, framed photo and letter, $15,535; Marx Brothers Duck Soup signed contract, $13,145; John Wayne Sands of Iwo Jima costume cap, $12,547; the Bela Lugosi funeral book and pallbearers card with a custom leather case, $11,950; and Robert Johnson "Stop Breaking Down Blues"/ "Honeymoon Blues" 78 Vocalion 4002 (1938), $11,950.

Prices reported include buyer's premium.

Heritage's next auction of celebrity, music and entertainment memorabilia is scheduled for October 6 and 7 in Dallas, with material from the James Dean Museum. For information, 800-872-6467 or www.HeritageAuctions.com.