John Lennon’s ‘A Day In The Life’ lyrics sell for $1.2 million

Sotheby’s New York have sold a set of hand-written lyrics by John Lennon for $1.2 million (18th June 2010). It was the highest selling piece in the first part of their ‘Books and Manuscripts’ auction, nearly doubling the estimate. See Sotheby’s entire list of lots from Sale N08646 here…

The piece comprises a single sheet of unruled writing paper with 2 complete sets of the lyrics written in black felt marker and blue ballpoint pen from 17th January 1967. The front bears Lennon's original first draft, written in a hurried but fully legible cursive script, and on the reverse is a fair copy written almost entirely in capital letters and evidently prepared for use in the recording studio. The sheet belonged to Mal Evans, The Beatles’ assistant and road manager.

Photograph © Michael Ward. Taken from A DAY IN THE LIFE.