Burger with Relish

On December 3, the auction house Christie’s will offer The Country Music Sale, featuring property from the Estate of Hank Thompson, and it is billed as the first sale dedicated to the creation, history, and evolution of country music.

The foundation of the sale is property from the estate of Texas Swing Band leader, song
writer and country performer Hank Thompson  This sale also includes important property from the classic and marquee names in country, including musical instruments, stage outfits, and hand-written lyrics from American artists such as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Bill Monroe, Buddy Holly, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Luther Perkins, and John Hartford.

Leading the sale is Buddy Holly’s Gibson J-45 guitar, circa 1942-43 (est. $450,000-550,000).  This guitar was used frequently during his  performing years, possibly even during his performances with Elvis Presley or Bill Haley in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas.  Distinctively personalized, Holly hand-tooled the leather cover and strap himself as a tribute to Elvis Presley, whom he first met in January 1955.

The collection features additional important instruments, including an iconic Waylon Jennings Fender electric guitar, circa 1950 (estimate: $80,000 – 120,000) with a custom-made white and black, hand tooled leather cover and a matching leather strap bearing the name Waylon; a C.F. Martin; D-18 guitar, 1947, owned by Hank Williams, one of the most influential singer-
songwriters of the 20th century (estimate: $100,000-150,000); Hank Thompson’s
Gibson J-200 guitar, 1948, with a later neck by Paul A. Bigsby (estimate: $20,000-30,000); and Johnny Cash’s black Fender Malibu guitar, circa 1965, famous in Cash’s performance history in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s (estimate: $40,000-60,000).

Another highlight includes Bill Monroe’s face-plate to his 1923 F-5 “Lloyd Loar” mandolin (estimate: $5,000-7,000).