Product Description

Over the last twenty years, rock and pop music has moved beyond the concert stage and the record shop to make a lasting impression on the worldwide auction market and there is now a passionate and lucrative trade in major items of rock and pop memorabilia. Christie's Rock and Pop Memorabilia is the first comprehensive survey of this rapidly expanding market. Based on Christie's long experience in this field, it introduces the reader to the wealth of rock and pop material that has come onto the market over the last twenty years, from the original handwritten lyrics for Let it Be, to the guitar played by Elvis Presley at his first recording session. As well as providing a detailed guide to all the different areas of collecting, it explains how to distinguish between potential collector's items and mass-produced artefacts of little value.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1030533 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-25
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

About the Author
Peter Doggett has been the consultant to the Pop and Film Department at Christie's South Kensington since 1985. He was the editor of Record Collector magazine (1982-99) and is author of numerous books on rock and pop music, including The Beatles, Lou Reed: Growing up in Public, and Are You Ready For The Country. Sarah Hodgson joined the Pop and Film Department at Christie's South Kensington in 1994 and has been the Head of Department since 1998. As well as organizing the regular rock and pop memorabilia auctions she also values items brought in by members of the public.

Customer Reviews

Interesting and lavishly illustrated
The demand for rock and pop memorabilia has created a diverse and eclectic market including original manuscripts and artwork by the musicians as well as mass-produced artefacts aimed at fans in the 1950s and 1960s that have become rare collector's items in the 21st century.

The various memorabilia are categorised by chapter as autographs, letters and manuscripts; recordings; guitars and other instruments; costumes; posters; printed artefacts; merchandising; awards and artwork. There is also a chapter titled Collector's Information and the book concludes with a bibliography and index.

Christie's Rock Memorabilia is a superb guide to this fast growing collector's market. The book is richly illustrated with full colour photographs and the text contains interesting anecdotes on some of the artists and the specific items of memorabilia. Even if you're not a collector, this is a fascinating read and a great reference work. Music fans will love it.