Home / Arts and Entertainment / Irsay's Iconic Collection Hits Christie's Auction Block
Irsay's Iconic Collection Hits Christie's Auction Block
4 Feb
Summary
- Jim Irsay's vast collection of memorabilia is being auctioned at Christie's.
- The collection features guitars, film props, and sports memorabilia.
- An estimated 350 items are part of this highly anticipated sale.
Highlights from Jim Irsay's extensive collection of film, music, sports memorabilia, and Americana are now on display at Christie's Los Angeles, with auctions scheduled for March. Irsay, the late owner of the Indianapolis Colts, amassed hundreds of items representing pivotal moments and figures in American pop culture.
The sale features a diverse range of artifacts, including Ringo Starr's drum head from The Beatles' Ed Sullivan Show debut, estimated at $1 million, and Sly Stallone's handwritten script notebook for Rocky, valued at $200,000. Tom Hanks' volleyball companion, Wilson, from the film Cast Away, is also up for auction with an estimate between $60,000 and $80,000.
Christie's is presenting around 350 items, with nearly 200 guitars, reflecting Irsay's appreciation for American guitar-making and instruments played by legends like Prince, John Lennon, and Jerry Garcia. Notably, Jerry Garcia's longest-played guitar, "Tiger," is estimated at $1 million. Other notable items include Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for "Hey Jude," a Buddy Holly concert poster, Secretariat's saddle, and Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" typescript scroll.
These items, which Irsay toured across 10 U.S. cities between 2021 and 2024, were previously not available for sale. The memorabilia market has seen significant growth, with record sales like Judy Garland's ruby slippers fetching $32.5 million in 2024. However, authenticity concerns have also emerged, with some auctions being cancelled.
