One lucky consumer will be able to get their hands on the very Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar that John Lennon played while penning iconic Beatles number "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
The eminent guitar will makes its way to the auction block in November and is estimated to sell for around $800,000, notes specialty entertainment memorabilia auctioner, Julien's Auctions. George Harrison and Lennon both purchased the same style of guitar in 1962 at a Liverpool music shop, costing $245 factoring in today's exchange rate, notes CNN.
Lennon manned the guitar during the Beatles early rise to fame while recording songs including "Love Me Do," "All My Loving," and "P.S. I Love You." The Beatle can be seen using the guitar in video footage from the band's live performances in 1963.
A year after Lennon's ownership, the guitar went missing and presumably stayed that way for the next 50 years. The current owner, John McCaw stumbled across the gem in the 1970s according to executive director at Julien's Auctions, Martin Nolan.
"He had no idea he was sitting on a hidden treasure," said Nolan.
Author and Beatles' instrument expert, Andy Babiuk, was able to correctly identify the guitar and verify its importance. In a statement, Babiuk revealed his talents allowed him to use the wood grain, serial number and pick guard to distinguish the instrument.
"It is without a doubt one of the most historically important guitars to ever come up for auction," said Babiuk.
Beatles guitars have a history of reeling in six figures--last year, Harrison's 1962 Rickenbacker 425 guitar was auctioned at Julien's for over $600,000. The most expensive guitar sold was "Blackie," Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, which sold in 2004 for a heaping $959,500. To many classic rock fan's surprise, Jimi Hendrix's Stratocaster sold for a lower price of $320,000 despite the estimated cost of $800,000.
