Prince's Personally-Owned Yellow Cloud Guitar Highlights Music Memorabilia At Heritage Auctions

Guitar used extensively in recording, on stage and in photo shoots may bring $6,000+ Dec. 6 in Dallas

DALLAS — Prince's personally-owned custom Yellow Cloud Guitar, featured in photo shoots and used in concerts and in the studio during the height of his popularity, highlights a diverse selection of entertainment and music memorabilia at Heritage Auctions. The Dec. 6 auction features stage-played instruments by Elvis Presley, rare signed albums by The Beatles and suits worn by the likes of Hank Williams and Buddy Holly.

The bright yellow solid body electric guitar was one of Prince's main personal instruments from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, according to a letter accompanying the piece from Zeke Clark, Prince's guitar technician. The standout symbol of the artist's genre-crossing music has been conservatively estimated to bring $6,000+.

"Prince's unique song writing talents and performances demanded a unique guitar and this was a longtime favorite," said Garry Shrum, Consignment Director for Entertainment & Music Memorabilia at Heritage. "Personally-owned items of his don't come up for auction very often so this is a rare find we think collectors will enjoy owning."

Additional stage-played instruments include Elvis Presley's NBN Limited Edition #0014 guitar, used during a sellout 1976 concert, which is expected to bring $50,000+. Accompanied by Elvis' chipped Fender pick and two letters of authenticity, the guitar was The King's preferred instrument for the April 23, 1976 performance at Denver's former McNichols Sports Arena.

"Elvis was promoting the release of his latest album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis Tennessee, his fourth to reach #1," Shrum said. "It's pretty exciting to know he used this guitar during a sellout concert in front of 19,000+ fans."

Presley's generosity is well documented and the auction holds a number of personally-owned gifts including a signature gold necklace and $20 1924 U.S. Saint Gauden Double Eagle gold coin pendant he wore on stage during the 1970s and later gave to singer/songwriter J.D. Sumner, which may sell for $40,000+, and a 14 karat gold Taking Care of Business pendant and chain Presley generously gifted to a Las Vegas Hilton valet worker in the 1970s that is expected to bring $6,000+.

An unusual item relating to The King's movie career is a rare wardrobe continuity script from his 1958 hit King Creole. The script is housed in a black leather binder and includes 20 never-before-seen, small, black and white photographs showing Presley in costume. The 130 page script is expected to sell for $6,000+.

The guitar's chief rival as the auction's top lot is a rare first U.K. pressing of Please Please Me by The Beatles, signed by the Fab Four themselves and offered during the landmark album's 50^th anniversary. The album was released in the United Kingdom in 1963 to capitalize on the success of singles such as "Love Me Do" and is the first in a long line of chart-topping LPs released by The Beatles during the following seven years. Signatures by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Star appear on the back because U.K. album covers were coated with a paper too slick to accept ink. It crosses the block with a $30,000+ estimate.

"You can't say enough about how important Please Please Me was to the 1960s and 50 years later it is still considered one of the greatest albums ever produced," Shrum said. "To find a signed copy of a U.K. first pressing is exceedingly rare and we think collectors are going to go wild."

Additional Beatles highlights include an article from a 1964 edition of Hootenanny Magazine featuring seven crisp signatures by members of The Kingston Trio and The Beatles. Directly from the private collection of Kingston Trip member Bob Shane, the signed article is expected to bring $12,000+. A copy of The Beatles "The White Album" signed by John Lennon may bring $3,500+ and a complete set of Beatles signatures on a pair of matching album pages, circa 1963, may fetch $3,000+.

The auction also features an important collection of 45 signed limited edition books by Genesis Publications to include subjects ranging from The Traveling Wilburys, estimated to bring $800+, to George Harrison, which may bring $2,000+.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited by:

Hank Williams' owned and worn suit, shirt and tie is offered with a $20,000 estimate.

A number of items personally owned by Jimi Hendrix, including a Copper Bracelet with Brass Royal Crest, circa 1968, estimated to bring $12,000+, and a pair of stage-worn Moccasin-style Suede Boots, estimated to fetch $10,000+.

A two-piece outfit worn by Buddy Holly, circa 1956, estimated to sell for $10,000+.

A Yellow Bender Distortocaster Guitar signed by Andy Warhol which appeared on the album cover for The Velvet Underground & Nico, from 1967, which could sell for $3,000+.

An Aloha Shirt owned by Stevie Ray Vaughn, circa 1980s, which may bring $1,200+ to lead a selection of 20 rarities from the Texas guitar blues man.