Iconic objects from Monroe to World War II hit the auction block

Record ID: 1686095

  • Title: Iconic objects from Monroe to World War II hit the auction block
  • Date: 24th August 2022
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 23, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GUITAR OWNED BY B.B. KING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUERNSEY’S, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, ARLAN ETTINGER, SAYING: “That guitar, that very plain homely little parlor guitar with cracks and eroded surface, nevertheless has to be looked at as one of the most iconic objects in the history of 20th-century music, as it indeed was the first guitar played by, and the guitar he learned how to play on, by none other than the great B.B. King.” MORE VARIOUS OF GUITAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUERNSEY’S, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, ARLAN ETTINGER, SAYING: “So, what is B.B. King's first guitar worth? It was appraised at over $2 million dollars (USD) by a very credible appraiser. But does that mean it will fetch that much, or will it fetch $1,000,000 or half a million dollars? You'd have to be at the auction to get the answer.”
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2022 19:45
  • Keywords: B.B. King Billie Holiday Franklin Delano Roosevelt Guernsey’s auction house Marilyn Monroe President Robert F. Kennedy collection collector guitar memorabilia pop culture
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / VATICAN CITY
  • City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / VATICAN CITY
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001040924082022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iconic objects from pop culture and history are being sold side-by-side at Guernsey’s auction house in Manhattan on September 21st.
    B.B. King’s very first and never seen before the guitar is among the top lots as auction house founder and president, Arlan Ettinger says it “has to be looked at as one of the most iconic objects in the history of 20th-century music."
    Other items coming directly from King’s estate include handwritten music, an African tribal drum given to him by Nelson Mandela, and half a dozen stage-worn jackets.
    Photos from Marilyn Monroe’s first-ever photo shoot are also included in the sale which comes with a fun story.
    “In 1945, Captain Ronald Reagan of the U.S. Army asked a private in the Army to go photograph attractive ‘Rosie the Riveter’ type young women working at the local war plant….This is one of the original photographs. That woman rose to the career and became the great and legendary Marilyn Monroe,” explained Ettinger while holding one of the photos.
    Also included in the 120 lot sale are sports items from U.S. baseball star Mickey Mantle and jazz singer Billie Holiday’s passport and fur wrap.
    Historic lots consist of an engine telegraph used aboard the USS St. Louis and a sword that was on display while President John F. Kennedy’s body laid in state at the White House. Proceeds from the sale of tools used at the 9/11 site will go to benefit the online 9/11 Tribute Museum.
    The auction will take place online at LiveAuctioneers.com and invaluable.com.
    (Production: Andrew Hofstetter, Alicia Powell)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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