THROUGH LENNON’S LENSES: RARE JOHN LENNON MEMORABILIA MARKS THE BEATLES’ ICON’S 85TH BIRTHDAY

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 9, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- John Lennon’s iconic tinted Windsor glasses from his “Lost Weekend” era will headline Propstore’s Music Memorabilia Live Auction on October 23–24, 2025, joined by other rare Lennon artifacts and more than 550 exceptional lots spanning the world of music, in $4 million music auction. The glasses, worn by Lennon between 1973 and 1974, are expected to fetch over $198,000.

Lennon was last seen wearing these iconic tinted prescription glasses on March 12, 1974, at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles, when he and close friend Harry Nilsson, both heavily intoxicated, disrupted a Smothers Brothers performance. Their antics escalated into a scuffle, during which Lennon lost his trademark spectacles. Tommy Smothers’ wife ended up with them, cementing the glasses’ place in rock ’n’ roll folklore.

Beyond that notorious night, Lennon wore the glasses throughout 1973 and 1974, including in photographs, at home with May Pang, and on the cover of his Mind Games single. With exceptional provenance and an estimate of $198,000 – $396,000, they come to market in what would have been his 85th year, offering fans and collectors a rare chance to own one of the most personal and recognisable symbols of his life and career.

Also going under the hammer is Lennon’s witty and irreverent artwork, the “Shroud of Tourin.” Created in 1966 while filming Richard Lester’s How I Won the War (1967) in Spain, the piece is a playful parody of the famed Shroud of Turin and a pun on Lennon’s well-known dislike of touring. Sketched in pencil across a scrap of military canvas that Lennon used for shade on set, the artwork features his self-portrait with two pairs of glasses, a Batman crest, and the words “Love” and “Hate” on his knuckles, alongside references to Elvis, radio, and marijuana. Signed by Lennon and rich with humour and social commentary, the “Shroud of Tourin” is offered with a pre-sale estimate of $33,000 - 66,000.

OTHER LENNON HIGHLIGHTS SET TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER:
- John Lennon's Tinted Prescription "Lost Weekend" Glasses est. $198,000 - $396,000
- Shroud of Tourin Artwork Autographed by John Lennon with Hand-Annotations and Illustrations, 1966 est. $33,000 - $66,000
- Hole of My Life Limited Edition Presentation Proof Serigraph Signed by Yoko Ono est.$3,960 - $7,920
- I'm Losing You Music Video Clapperboard est. $660 - $1,320
- Sealed Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen-Autographed 1995 Deluxe Edition "Sometime In New York City" Book est. $264 - #528
- Toronto Rock and Roll Revival 1969 Concert Poster est. $2,640 - $5,280
- Give Peace A Chance and "Remember Love" Trident Studios EMI Reel-to-Reel Tapes est. $2,640 - $5,280

The two-day Music Memorabilia Auction will begin at 3:00 PM BST / 7:00 AM PDT each day. The first day of the auction features in-room bidding open to the public at The Cumberland Hotel on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The second day, on Friday, October24, 2025, will be an online-only Oasis celebration, offering over 170 lots of memorabilia from one of Britain’s best-loved Britpop bands, marking their monumental world tour return this year. Global online, absentee, and telephone bids will be accepted throughout the event.

Registration is now open, and the full catalogue is available to view and bid on at https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/460.

Find out more about the public exhibition at The Cumberland Hotel over at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-live-auction-vip-exhibition-the-cumberland-hotel-london-tickets-1595678259629?aff=oddtdtcreator

Mark Hochman, Propstore’s Music Specialist, commented on the upcoming event: “John Lennon’s tinted Windsor glasses are not only instantly recognisable but also deeply personal, capturing a pivotal moment in his life and career. To offer them in what would have been Lennon’s 85th year, as part of Propstore’s landmark auction alongside highlights from Oasis, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and more, is a truly extraordinary moment. These items represent the very fabric of music history, and we are excited to see them resonate with collectors and fans around the world.”

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Notes to Editors:
For further information, catalogue images and expert interviews, please contact:
Bethany Willetts | bwilletts@blazepr.com

Register for auction updates: https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/460

Images are available in the following Dropbox link (please copy and paste URL): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3rmrg9s3rx0e67xwrcu8i/ANd19Ca8T9djyflG9_DCYcU?rlkey=smrgkrdrlvsqe2qmuq8oia4mc&dl=0
Credit: Propstore

About Propstore
In 1998, Propstore founder Stephen Lane’s love for movies led him to hunt for the same props and costumes used to create his favorite films. He found that he could provide collectors with access to their most coveted pieces and establish archival standards for this new, pop-culture hybrid of fine art and memorabilia collecting—prop art.

Since 2014, Propstore has regularly hosted live auctions featuring some of the world’s greatest Entertainment Memorabilia treasures. Propstore specializes in film and television props and costumes, production materials, and artwork, as well as music memorabilia, posters, and collectible toys. Propstore also holds regular online auctions in association with many of the industry’s major production materials and has over 5,000 items available for sale via Buy Now on www.propstore.com.

Following our 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, Propstore was thrilled to receive the honor again in 2024, this time as the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise. Widely regarded as the highest accolade for business success in the UK, the King's Award for Enterprise recognizes British companies that have excelled in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

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Matthew Kovacs
Propstore
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