2020 Holiday Auction Closing December 12-13

Lot #9: John Lennon Signed "Double Fantasy" Album Signed For Mark David Chapman The Night of Assassination (Beckett)

Description

The death of John Lennon marked the end of the greatest phenomenon in popular culture history, The Beatles. On the night of December 8th, 1980, the world found out that arguably the most famous of the Beatles had been assassinated outside his home in The Dakota, the apartment complex in Manhattan where Lennon resided with his wife Yoko Ono and young son Sean. News of Lennon’s death was first broadcast on ABC’s Monday Night Football when legendary announcer Howard Cosell interrupted the call of the Patriots/Dolphins game in Miami and said with his matter of fact delivery to the nationwide audience “Yes, we have to say it. Remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City—the most famous, perhaps, of all of the Beatles—shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival. Hard to go back to the game after that newsflash, which, in duty bound, we have to take. Frank (Gifford)?"

Offered here is arguably the most important Rock N Roll relic ever for sale, this is the Double Fantasy album that John Lennon signed for his soon-to-be assassin Mark David Chapman roughly 5 hours before Chapman murdered him. The Lennon’s had left around 5:00 PM to head to the Record Plant studio. It was not uncommon for fans to wait outside The Dakota for the chance to meet and/or seek an autograph from Lennon. Chapman had this Double Fantasy album signed before the Lennon’s left for the studio and the Lennon’s returned to The Dakota around 10:50 PM. According to the doorman and a nearby taxi driver via police reports, Chapman was waiting in an archway entrance and fired multiple bullets into John Lennon’s back after the couple had passed him on their way into the building. Chapman put this album in one of the giant planters on either side of the Dakota entrance where it was found that night by the original seller of the album who kept it under his bed for 18 years before selling it in 1998.

Lennon’s signature is in blue pen on the neck of the image of Yoko Ono on the front. Lennon also inscribed “1980” below his signature. The numbers above Lennon’s signature in black marker are police evidence markings. On the back of the album on the upper right corner to the left of the song listings, handwritten in blue pen are other police markings that reads “Det M. Struk #7247 20 DET Sqd 1330 Hrs 12/9/80”. One cannot imagine a more historic, iconic and phenomenally important artifact. This historic piece comes with a letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication for John Lennon’s signature and is housed in a Plexiglass holder for protection.

Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):$900,000
Minimum Bid:$400,000
Number of Bids:10