John Lennon's Lost 1962 Gibson J-160E

Lennon and George Harrison bought matching Gibson J-160E guitars at Rushworth's music shop in Liverpool on 9 September 1962. Lennon's went missing after the Beatles' Christmas shows at the Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, in December 1963. In 1969 John McCaw of San Diego bought a guitar from a friend for $175; in 2014 he noticed that its serial number was four short of Harrison's in a guitar magazine, and the instrument was identified as Lennon's. Julien's Auctions sold it on 7 November 2015 for $2.41 million.

1. 9 September 1962

   Bought by John Lennon at Rushworth's, LiverpoolB

2. December 1963

   Lost after the Beatles' Christmas shows at Finsbury ParkB

3. 1969

   Bought by John McCaw from a friend for $175B

4. 2014

   Identified as Lennon's by its serial numberB

5. 7 November 2015

   Sold at Julien's Auctions for $2.41 millionA

Owned by · 1962–1963

John LennonA

Associated with · 1962

LiverpoolBmedium confidence

Used by · 1962–1963

The BeatlesBmedium confidence

Made by · 1962

Gibson BrandsB

Associated with · 2015

Julien's AuctionsA

1. A

   CNBC, 'John Lennon's acoustic guitar fetches $2.4 million at auction' (9 November 2015)

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   San Diego Reader, 'The inside story of how John Lennon's long-lost guitar was found in San Diego' (June 2019)

   ↗ View original record