This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2024
Two of Rock & Roll’s most spectacular icons collide here in this extraordinary John Lennon hand-made collage that he personally gave to Elton John as a present for his birthday in 1975.
Lennon signed the two-piece collage twice and inscribed it as well, dating it March 25, 1975 (Elton's birth date is March 25, 1947).
The two piece collage comes with an Elton John signed letter of provenance on his personal letterhead.
The first part of the two part collage is pasted directly on an 11 x 1.25 x 14 white box upon which Lennon has handwritten "' Who was Mother Goose?' for Elton" and "happy birthday Elton from John & Yoko (with two hand-drawn self-portraits of John and Yoko) Tuesday, March 25/75" in black felt tip pen. He has then pasted a news picture of Elton John with his zodiac sign fortune, an Ivory Snow small ad with a baby, a picture of a naked man and a 1974 Elton John Tour guest pass.
The second part of the collage was once attached to the back of the box but has been cleanly separated. The entire 11 x 14 in page is filled with Lennon's collage creation and in the bottom left corner Lennon has pasted two pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger and a small Simon & Shuster request for a copy of Arnold's book "Pumping Iron", filling it out in his own hand. Lennon’s famous sense of humor is on display here , for the Name he has written "John Lennon" and "75", for the Address he has written "Yoko Ono", for the City he has written "yes", for the State his has written "Hi", and for the Zip code he has written "up".
The colorful collage includes multiple pictures of naked men, a small original photograph of Lennon where he has just cut out his head, pictures of Elton, his birth date, the title of the Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" and more sexualized pictures such as the very suggestive tomato in the upper right side! John and Elton's friendship began in the studio when Elton sang and played piano on both "Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" and "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" for Lennon's 1974 album "Walls and Bridges". At that time Lennon was the only Beatle who hadn't achieved a number one hit as a solo artist. John thought that "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" would go to number one for Lennon, and so they made a little wager. Lennon promised that he would do Madison Square Garden with Elton if the song went to number one. The song went to number one in November of 1974 and Lennon made good on his promise when he joined John on stage at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974. Lennon hadn't made a full-length performance since 1972's One to One concert, also held at the Garden. When Lennon joined John on stage the audience went wild, and the two made rock and roll history. This would turn out to be Lennon's last concert appearance.
Very good condition.
Authentication: Elton John signed letter of provenance on his letterhead, a photo of John Lennon and Elton John at that historic concert, and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.