Ringo Starr's Personal 'White Album' Sells for World Record $790,000

[afx]

Ringo Starr's personal copy of the Beatles' The White Album, numbered No.0000001, sold for a world record $790,000 Saturday at the Julien's Live auction of instruments and items from Starr and wife Barbara Bach's estate. Starr's White Album carried a pre-auction estimate of $40,000 to $60,000, a number that was easily shattered during bidding.

Ringo Starr Talks White Album Auction »

"We used to play the vinyl in those days," Starr previously told Rolling Stone of his copy of the band's classic 1968 LP. "We didn't think, 'We'll keep it for 50 years and it will be in pristine condition.' Whoever gets it, it will have my fingerprints on it." The copies of The White Album were numbered in sequence, ensuring that whoever purchased Starr's copy would have the first printing produced of the album.

Starr's 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl three-piece drum kit, used in the recording of "Can't Buy Me Love," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You" and other classics from that era, sold for $2.2 million Friday. The kit was used by Starr in more than 200 performances between May of 1963 and February of 1964 and later employed by Paul McCartney during the recording of his 1970 solo album McCartney.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay purchased the drum kit, which hadn't been seen in public for over 50 years. The Colts owner and rock memorabilia enthusiasts previously purchased high-profile instruments like Bob Dylan's 1965 Newport Folk Festival guitar, John Lennon's 1966 "Paperback Writer" Gretsch guitar and Les Paul's "Black Beauty."

Other Starr instruments sold at auction include a drum kit from the "Hello Goodbye" video ($112,000), a Rickenbacker guitar gifted to the drummer from Lennon ($910,000, also purchased by Irsay) and a Starr-owned Hofner bass ($22,500). Starr's A Hard Day's Night suit was also sold for $50,000.

Another item that generated a lot of interest on the auction block was a 1971 18-karat yellow gold "Moonphase" Patek Philippe wristwatch. The watch – which sold for $179,000, nearly double its $80,000 estimate – was one of the few items on the block that didn't need the benefit of Starr's ownership to increase its value: As Bloomberg reported, Starr's Patek Philippe wristwatch was incredibly rare, one of only 586 made, attracting watch enthusiasts more so than Beatles fanatics. When the same model Patek Philippe was auctioned in November 2012, it drew a closing bid of $136,000.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ringo-starrs-personal-white-album-sells-for-world-record-910-000-20151205#ixzz3tV7PFSlZ
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

 

[Joe Handley]

WOW!

[Harry P.]

So why is Ringo having this upscale garage sale? Money trouble?

[Mark]

So why is Ringo having this upscale garage sale? Money trouble?

Probably just simplifying his life.  Ringo didn't earn as much as the other Beatles during their time together (virtually zip in the way of song writing royalties) but he's had a pretty decent career since.  No major drug problems draining away money that I can recall, no other scandals...one divorce, but nothing he couldn't afford.  I don't know how Ringo is doing financially, but I'd bet he's not hurting.

[Harry P.]

As far as $$$ goes, believe me... he is doing just fine.

And if he ever ran into financial difficulty, he could always ask his buddy Paul for a loan. I think Paul is doing ok, too!

[afx]

Irsay surely isn't hurting!  Nothing like having an extra $3M lying around to buy decorations for your man cave.

[madhorseman]

As far as $$$ goes, believe me... he is doing just fine.

And if he ever ran into financial difficulty, he could always ask his buddy Paul for a loan. I think Paul is doing ok, too!

Hey Harry!!

saw a program on Reelz yesterday called Celebrity "Legacies". The episode i watched was about John Lennon, I guess cause the anniversary of his death is coming up. Anyway, I'm sure it will be replayed, it's a must see if You think any of these guys will have money problems.

[madhorseman]

Oh BTW, I have a turntable for sale.... if he needs something to play it on.

[JDGREEN]

As far as $$$ goes, believe me... he is doing just fine.

And if he ever ran into financial difficulty, he could always ask his buddy Paul for a loan. I think Paul is doing ok, too!

I would say he is doing more than fine, according to Celebrity Net Worth he is worth $350 Million!!

[afx]

I would say he is doing more than fine, according to Celebrity Net Worth he is worth $350 Million!!

Irsay's net worth is $1.7 BILLION with a B!!

[JDGREEN]

WELL IF EITHER REPORT IS CORRECT THEN I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY HE DON'T NEED THE PROCEEDS FROM AN AUCTION!! 

Irsay's net worth is $1.7 BILLION with a B