A slice of Beatles’ history goes on sale next month when the original collage designed by Sir Peter Blake for the insert of the band’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is auctioned.
The collage is included in Sotheby's November 13th auction of Modern British art, the auction house said today, and has a minimum valuation of £50,000 (€62,200).
A copy of the design, which depicts the character of Sergeant Pepper, was included in the original release and intended for fans to cut out and keep.
Blake worked closely with John Lennon and Paul McCartney to create the imagery of Sgt Pepper, designing both the record sleeve and the insert, the latter featuring cut-out sergeant's stripes and a clip-on moustache.
James Rawlin, Sotheby’s senior specialist in modern British paintings, said: “Sir Peter Blake’s collage is a tangible slice of rock history. Sgt Pepper had a huge impact on the cultural landscape. It was the first concept album, when music, story, image and studio expertise all came together.
"In this work we witness the creation of the eponymous Sgt Pepper himself, with his familiar accoutrements of moustache and sergeant’s stripes, originally intended for fans to cut out and keep.”
The collage comes from the collection of architect Colin St John “Sandy” Wilson and is expected to fetch around £80,000 in the Sotheby’s sale. The work was presented to Wilson’s wife by Blake shortly after it was completed.
Today is the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' debut single, Love Me Do, which was released on October 5th, 1962 and reached number 17 in the United Kingdom.
Agencies