Cash's Belongings Up For Auction

JOHNNY CASH's costumes, guitars and handwritten lyrics are set to go under the hammer at a massive memorabilia auction in December (10). The Man In Black's possessions are set to be auctioned off in Los Angeles in a lengthy three-day sale, which will include a staggering 1,000 lots.

Items up for grabs include the blue denim jumpsuit worn by Cash in the famous Jim Marshall photograph, which shows the late star flicking his middle finger to the camera. It is expected to sell for between $3,000 (£2,000) to $5,000 (£3,333). A guitar which Cash used to write the first four lines of his track I Walk The Line carries an estimate of up to $30,000 (£20,000), while a set of scribbled lyrics are expected to fetch $4,000 (£2,667).

The Julien's Auctions sale will begin on 3 December (10) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the MusiCares charity, which helps musicians with health or financial problems.

Property from the Life and Career of Johnny Cash Auction

Julien's Auctions is proud to announce an auction of property from the life and career of Johnny Cash. The auction includes items from Cash's military career, through his life and partnership with June Carter Cash, into his time as a Highwayman with his friends through the end of his career. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit MusiCares.

Highlights in the sale are lyrics personally penned by Cash. The lyrics include Cash's takes on traditional songs, an alternate version of "Don't Take Your Guns To Town," (Est. $2,000/4,000) and many songs that have never been recorded. Three guitars from different points in Cash's career are included in this auction — a vintage 1951 Martin guitar used by Cash in studio that later became the designated tour bus guitar (Est. $20,000/30,000). The second guitar is a Grammer Johnny Cash model used extensively by Cash on The Johnny Cash Show and later inscribed by Cash, "To Richard,/ Play It Pretty/Johnny Cash." ($30,000/40,000) The third guitar offered for sale is also a Martin used by Cash in the 1980s and gifted to his friend Bill Miller. This guitar can be seen on the cover of the live album The Survivors. It has been inscribed by Cash with the first four lines of "I Walk the Line." (Est. $20,000/30,000)

Cash's personal style can be seen among the stage worn clothing offered for sale: A pair of early stage worn pants made by Cash's mother (Est. $1,000/3,000), the jumpsuit (Est. $3,000/5,000) worn by Cash while rehearsing at San Quentin prison that was immortalized in the photograph now known simply as "The Finger," Cash's bicentennial parade worn shirt (Lot 756) and other patriotic clothing pieces from the mid-1970s, knee-high boots with an elaborate eagle design on alligator leather (Est. $1,500/2,000), an iconic Man in Black cape (Est. $2,000/3,000) and accompanied by clothing lots from the love of Cash's life, June Carter Cash (Est. $800/1,200 and $2,000/4,000).

Johnny Cash is known as a songwriter and performer, but this sale also sheds light on other, lesser known facets of his life as an actor, student, employer and writer. Cash's creativity shines through in his artwork, his bible study course work (Est. $800/1,200), scripts, Cash's screen worn costume from A Gunfight (Est. $2,000/3,000), working notes for songs, commercials and record endeavors, notes to and supporting his employees, letters from Presidents and his celebrity friends: Kris Kristofferson, Bruce Springsteen, Kirk Douglas and others. This is a rare offering of a lifetime of memorabilia from a true American legend, the Man in Black.

Free Public Exhibition:

Julien's Auctions 9665 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 150 Beverly Hills, California 90210 Friday, November 19th – Thursday, December 2nd 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Daily Thursday, November 25th — Closed For Thanksgiving

Live Auction:
9665 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 150 Beverly Hills, California 90210
Icons & Idols Friday, December 3rd: Session I — 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 4th: Session II — 10:00 a.m. & Session III — 2:00 p.m.
Property from the Life and Career of Johnny Cash Sunday, December 5th: Session IV — 10:00 a.m.