Ringo’s auction results

The first Ludwig Beatles drumkit sold for $2,110,000

All in all, the 1300 items Ringo and his wife put up for sale through Julien’s auctions brought in $9.2 million dollars. I’m sure this is some kind of a record, and certainly a good deal for the auction house in fees. Here are some of the starriest items and how much they went for:

• $2,110,000 – The first Beatles Ludwig Drum kit, used on songs like Can’t Buy Me Love and I Want to Hold Your Hand
• $910,000 – John Lennon’s 1964 Rickenbacker guitar, which he gave to Starr in 1968
• $790,000 – The White Album, numbered 0000001
• $179,200 – George Harrison’s 1962 Gretsch Tennessean guitar, given to Starr by Harrison’s family after the Concert for George concert following Harrison’s death
• $179,200 – An 18 carat yellow gold Moonphase watch by Patek Philippe
• $125,000 – The back panel from John Lennon’s psychedelic caravan, featuring the Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band logo
• $115,200 – Ludwig silver sparkle drum kit used in the 1967 Hello, Goodbye video
• $106,250 – A gold ring with rectangular sapphire that Starr says he wore during every show he ever played with the Beatles
• $100,000 – A gold and onyx ring, which was also worn for every single Beatles show

The white album surpassed the previous world record for a gramophone record, set when Elvis Presley’s first acetate recording sold for $300,000 earlier this year.

The mono white album #0000001, UK edition.

A few of the items were bought by Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay, who seems to be establishing a museum of his own, having previously acquired roughly 30 famous guitars, including instruments used by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Eric Clapton. Earlier this year, he also purchased another of The Beatles’ drumheads.

The drumhead of the first Ludwig Beatles drumkit which Irsay bought at Ringo’s auction is a replica (depicted above), the original was kept by Paul McCartney after he had borrowed Ringo’s kit to use on his first solo album, “McCartney” in 1970.

From Paul McCartney’s “Mill” studio.