Rock relics from Dylan, Hendrix, Cash up for auction in Boston

Music

Not to mention Taylor Swift’s signed pink guitar.

An “exceedingly rare” 1968 Bob Dylan abstract painting. Johnny Cash’s black Nudie Suit. Janis Joplin’s “hippie shirt.” Taylor Swift’s signed pink guitar. A slew of signed Beatles memorabilia.�

Whether you’re a Dylanophile, a Fab Four fanatic, or just a music-lover, there are some eyebrow-raising gems up for auction now via a Boston auction house. RR Auction’s “Marvels of Modern Music” includes more than 300 items in a sale closing May 23.

Two rock treasures truly stand out.

One Dylanophile will truly salute him when his birthday comes by buying an “exceedingly rare” original abstract painting by Dylan circa 1968. The auction closes the day before Bob turns 83.�

Dylan fans familiar with his more recent visual artwork — maybe his Americana scenes like pool halls, diners or motel signs, or landscape paintings; his graphite drawings; or his metal sculptures —  might be surprised to see this colorful abstract from his Woodstock days. Estimate: $100,000.

According to RR’s website, “Dylan’s painting techniques range from thin background layers to thick impasto,” and this work is “signed faintly on the reverse, ‘Bob Dylan,’ with musical notes sketched below.” The 24.5-by-30-inch unvarnished painting, stretched over a wooden strainer with fixed joints, pops with corals, greens, red and yellow.�

According to the auction item description, Dylan gave the painting to a Woodstock-area resident, Sandy LePanto, in exchange for making an astrology chart. RR cites writer Anne Margaret Daniel as saying that Bob “gave Sandy a painting in exchange for the charts and readings she’d done for him.”  The painting remained in the family since.

There are other Dylan items in the auction, including an Oct. 23, 1965 University of Vermont handbill for a Bob Dylan concert in the gym (“Same day UVM-Norwich Football Game”) where tickets went for as much as $4. That item is estimated now at $400.

Another New England-tied rarity: an “incredibly rare original recording” of a then-unknown Jimi Henrix backing Little Richard live in 1965 at Boston’s Back Bay Theatre, formerly the Donnelly Theatre. “The recording was made by Boston radio personality Little Walter DeVenne on a Scotch 190 reel at 7.5 ips, and originates from his personal archives,” according to RR’s website.

According to the auction item description, the emcee introduces Little Richard and his band to Boston fans: “I’d like for you to get together and welcome a young man who is delicate. Prettier than Cassius Clay. Swings harder than Roger Maris. He has more hits than Willie Mays. I want you to put your hands together now and make him feel good. You make him feel good now! Some of you girls can make him feel good later…”

Little Richard takes the mic: “As pretty as I am … I want to say to you all that I am not conceited … the next time you see Cassius Clay, you can tell him Little Richard is here.”

It’s estimated at $40,000. The setlist, according to the website: “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Lucille,” “Send Me Some Lovin,” a medley of “Rip It Up” /“Tutti Frutti”/“Jenny, Jenny,” “ Shake a Hand,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

Another gem: The Man in Black’s black suit. Johnny Cash’s Nudie suit — black with navy blue embroidered moons and stars — has its original tags sewn inside: “Name: Johnny Cash, Date: 1-17-77.”  Estimate: $6,000.

Other interesting items: Amy Winehouse’s negligee. Elvis’s briefcase. Janis Joplin’s shirt. Joni Mitchell’s dress. A pink Luna Neo Mini 3/4 size electric guitar signed by Taylor Swift. An Epiphone signed by B.B. King. A Squier Telecaster signed by The Rolling Stones. (Mick Taylor adds: “It’s only Rock & Roll.”) A psychedelic sketch on a paper napkin by Jimi Hendrix.

Also on the block — though apparently it’s in France, not Boston right now — Prince’s stage-used grand piano from his “Piano & a Microphone Tour.’’

According to RR’s site, this is the late icon’s stage-used black Yamaha C5 grand piano from the Australia/New Zealand leg of that tour and “played during his shows in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland from February 16-24, 2016. The piano … originates from the collection of Prince’s tour promoter.” Estimate: $200,000.

Meanwhile, Fab Four fans with some extra dough could have a field day:

A Beatles-signed Magical Mystery Tour EP for their youngest co-star in that movie (“To Nichole, love, John Lennon, x,” “Love, Ringo Starr,” “Paul McCartney,” and “Love from, George Harrison.”) Estimate: $30,000.

A 1964 dinner menu from a hotel in New Zealand signed by John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and  John Lennon’s aunt Mimi Smith. (On the menu: shrimp mayonnaise, pickled leg of pork, kidney brochette.) Estimate: $5,000.

A rare “Bank of Tokyo” check from John Lennon paid to the Beatles personal assistant, Jo Jo Johns. Lennon signed that 1976 check for £789.50. The current estimate: $10,000.

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at@laurendaley1.