Strumming to $157,773 was this smashed guitar played by Kurt Cobain during the inaugural performance of “Endless Nameless” at Evergreen State College on January 18, 1991. The replica Memphis Stratocaster’s remains were given to Janel Jarosz, who kept the guitar in her record shop and home until its consignment.
Review by Kiersten Busch
YORK, PENN. — Back for its first auction since the beginning of August, Hake’s Auctions conducted Auction #242 on November 20-21. Boasting more than 2,000 lots over the two days, the firm offered a true mixed bag of Americana, sports memorabilia, comics and a plethora of pop culture and entertainment industry items. “The auction was a great success,” said Alex Winter, president of Hake’s. “We were hoping for big things with our final premier auction of the year and bidders delivered. Many record prices were set, in a wide variety of categories.” With a 92 percent sell-through rate, the sale totaled $2.5 million and all of the top lots sold to private collectors from the United States.
Rocking it out of the park for $157,773 during session two of the auction was a smashed guitar used by Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain during a show at Evergreen State College on January 18, 1991, in Olympia, Wash. The bold, red guitar — a left-handed Memphis Stratocaster replica produced in Japan at the Matsumoku factory — was, according to the auction catalog, “a sacrificial lamb used by Cobain for the gig’s conclusion.” The catalog also mentioned that Chris Brady, the bassist of Pond, was the lucky audience member who claimed the guitar post-show; Brady then gave it to Janel Jarosz, the owner of Ooze Records, who kept it until its consignment. The lot came with letters of provenance from Brady and Jarosz, as well as two numbered double exposure chromogenic prints of Cobain using and destroying the instrument, signed by photographer Johnny Baltimore.
Of the guitar, Hake’s director of Americana, Scott Mussell, had this to say: “This guitar… is to me the single coolest thing Hake’s has handled in our 57 years of operation and ranks among the most moving artifacts I have had the privilege of handling. Everywhere I’ve been with it people are moved, reactions ranging from joyous smiles to stoic reflection, this piece has an energy unlike anything.”
Only released in Brazil, this Glasslite Star Wars: Droids action figure of Vlix had Portuguese text on its blister card and measured 4¼ inches tall. One of only 12 graded by the AFA, this example received the highest grade: silver (80) near mint and earned $44,262 ($35/50,000).
The second and third highest-priced lots of the sale, both from session two, came from the Star Wars franchise: both rare action figures from a galaxy far, far away. Earning $114,224 was a vintage rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype action figure by Kenner, of which only a finite amount were produced for safety testing purposes, the catalog noted. The 3¾-inch-tall, unpainted figure — complete with L-slot rocket-firing mechanisms on its back — was graded silver (85) near mint plus by the Action Figure Authority (AFA) and came with a notarized Collectible Investment Brokerage (CIB) certificate of authenticity. The third highest price went to a rare Star Wars: Droids (1988) action figure by Glasslite of the character Vlix, which made $44,262.
Turning to session one, the highest earning lot was a Cox Roosevelt Club presidential campaign button, an item “akin to the ‘holy grail,’” according to the auction catalog. The example offered in the sale, was particularly coveted because of its rarity, size and color. This button was the only iteration of the Cox and Roosevelt jugate to feature color and it was produced by a small firm in Omaha, Neb., M.F. Shafer & Co., while “all other varieties were produced by major button manufacturers of the era,” noted the catalog. Mussell believed that it was “unquestionably the crown jewel of the John Gearhart collection and one of the most important political campaign button rarities in existence.” The button campaigned a $36,580 finish.
Hake’s next sale, on January 22, comprises part one of the Jeff Jacobs collection — the finest Star Wars toys collection ever come up to auction, according to Winter. Prices quoted include buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, 717-434-1600 or www.hakes.com.
