Post by nowheregirl on Jul 12, 2007 19:44:12 GMT 1
Daily Mail
A pair of John Lennon's iconic granny glasses are set to fetch more than £1 million when they are auctioned on an internet website.
The gold-rimmed spectacles were presented to the musician's Japanese translator Junishi Yore more than 40 years ago during the Beatles 1966 tour.
As well as being his trademark, they are a poignant reminder of Lennon's tragic death - Mr Yore pushed out the dark lenses as a traditional sign of respect when he heard the news of the singer's murder in 1980.
The last pair of Lennon's glasses changed hands back in 2002 and are kept at The Beatles Story exhibiton in Liverpool. They are insured for £1 million.
Experts believe the new acution will create huge interest, especially as the glasses are associated with the Beatles' legendary tour.
On the eve of the trip, Lennon had commented the Beatles were "bigger than Jesus" and, once they were in Japan, the band faced threats from religious fanatics angry at the decision to let them play at the sacred site of Budokan.
At the end of their final Budokan concert, Lennon and his translator exchanged gifts in the Japanese tradition.
Mr Yore presented the Beatle with a set of copper cups and Lennon gave him the spectacles.
They go on sale today on music memorabilia website www.991.com.
John Warner, its sales director, said they came to the site from a US collector:
He added: "They are an iconic item from one of the greatest luminaries of pop."
The glasses also come with a note from Mr Yore: "John Lennon wore same glasses at Budokan. He gave me this ... Very nice man. Lenses removed when he die."
A pair of John Lennon's iconic granny glasses are set to fetch more than £1 million when they are auctioned on an internet website.
The gold-rimmed spectacles were presented to the musician's Japanese translator Junishi Yore more than 40 years ago during the Beatles 1966 tour.
As well as being his trademark, they are a poignant reminder of Lennon's tragic death - Mr Yore pushed out the dark lenses as a traditional sign of respect when he heard the news of the singer's murder in 1980.
The last pair of Lennon's glasses changed hands back in 2002 and are kept at The Beatles Story exhibiton in Liverpool. They are insured for £1 million.
Experts believe the new acution will create huge interest, especially as the glasses are associated with the Beatles' legendary tour.
On the eve of the trip, Lennon had commented the Beatles were "bigger than Jesus" and, once they were in Japan, the band faced threats from religious fanatics angry at the decision to let them play at the sacred site of Budokan.
At the end of their final Budokan concert, Lennon and his translator exchanged gifts in the Japanese tradition.
Mr Yore presented the Beatle with a set of copper cups and Lennon gave him the spectacles.
They go on sale today on music memorabilia website www.991.com.
John Warner, its sales director, said they came to the site from a US collector:
He added: "They are an iconic item from one of the greatest luminaries of pop."
The glasses also come with a note from Mr Yore: "John Lennon wore same glasses at Budokan. He gave me this ... Very nice man. Lenses removed when he die."
