The Jim Irsay Collection

One of the greatest collections of guitars, instruments, sports, movie, literature and pop culture memorabilia of all time | Four auctions: March 3-17 | Public exhibition: March 6-12, 2026

NEW YORK – WEBWIRE – Monday, January 12, 2026

Christies will offer hundreds of incredible objects fromThe Jim Irsay Collectionin a series of sales in 2026, beginning with almost 400 items tracing the 20th Centurys pivotal moments in music, film, sports, and pop culture over four auctions from March 3 to March 17. The objects will also be on view in a free, public exhibition at Christies at 20 Rockefeller Plaza from March 6 until March 12.

The Jim Irsay Collectionis one of the greatest troves of memorabilia ever assembled, meticulously compiled over decades by the late philanthropist, passionate music lover, and owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts. A portion of the proceeds of these sales will be donated to philanthropic causes supported by Jim Irsay during his lifetime.

The sale schedule is as follows:The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame Live March 12;The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Popular Culture Live March 13;The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Music Live March 14;The Jim Irsay Collection: Online March 3-17.

Additional objects from American history will also be offered in a dedicated auction on July 1 and on view in a free public exhibition at 20 Rockefeller Plaza from June 25-30. More information will be shared on that saleThe Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Historylater this year.

Due to the number of extraordinary objects in the collection, please see a more comprehensive list of highlights on the attached Highlight Reel.

Jim Irsay was an incredible collector with an eye for rare treasures tied to the most important moments in our collective history, saidJulien Pradels, President, Christies Americas.It is a privilege to offer this renowned collection at Christies, giving collectors and visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view, be inspired by, and bid on these objects.

Before the collection is offered and exhibited at Christies in New York, selected highlights will go on a world tour, giving the public the opportunity to view these extraordinary objects. The tour stops include:

Highlights Exhibition atChristies London: January16-22
8 King St. London SW1Y 6QT, United Kingdom

Highlights Exhibition atThe Super Bowl Experience, San Francisco: February3-7
The Moscone Center, 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Highlights Exhibition atChristies Los Angeles: February4-6
336 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills CA 90210

Highlights Exhibition inLas Vegas:February 20-22
Contact the press office for more informationpressamericas@christies.com

HIGHLIGHT REEL THE JIM IRSAY COLLECTION

The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame

Thursday, March 12

This live sale will feature around 50 lots, including the rarest, most sought-after treasures inThe Jim Irsay Collection. Many of the pieces at the center of whatGuitar Worldmagazine called The Greatest Guitar Collection on Earth will be offered in this sale. Highlights include:

• Kurt Cobains 1966 Fender Mustang guitar, used during the recording of Nirvanas albumsNevermindandIn Uteroand featured in the music video for their generational anthem Smells Like Teen Spirit (estimate: $2.5M – 5M)
• David Gilmours “Black Strat key to the development of the Pink Floyd sound and instrumental in the recording of their landmark albumsThe Dark Side of the Moon(1973),Wish You Were Here(1975),Animals(1977) andThe Wall(1979). It was notably used by Gilmour on the songs Money, Shine On You Crazy Diamond and for his legendary solo on Comfortably Numb (estimate: $2M – $4M)
• Jerry Garcias guitar Tiger custom made by the luthier, Doug Irwin. Garcias main stage guitar from 19791989 and notably used for his last performance with the Grateful Dead at Chicagos Soldier Field on July 9, 1995 (estimate: $1M – $2M)
• Ringo Starrs first-ever Ludwig drum kit used for hundreds of live performances and studio recordings from May 1963 to February 1964 (estimate: $1M – $2M); the logo drum head (estimate: $1M – $2M) from the Beatles historic debut appearance onThe Ed Sullivan Showin February 1964. Additionally, the collection includes Starrs trademark 9ct gold and sapphire pinky ring worn throughout his career with the Beatles (estimate: $60,000 to $100,000)
• John Lennons 1963 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar, used during the Beatles recording sessions of Paperback Writer and Rain (estimate: $600,000 – $800,000)
• George Harrisons stage-played Gibson SG Standard guitar, used extensively in the studio between 1966 and 1969 and in promotional films for Paperback Writer and Rain (estimate: $800,000 – $1.2M)
• Paul McCartney– Handwritten lyrics for Hey Jude (estimate: $600,000 – $1M)
• Affidavit filed byPaul McCartneyin 1970 to break up The Beatles, with handwritten annotations by John Lennon (estimate: $100,000 – $150,000)
• Eric Claptons C.F. Martin & Co. 000-42, 1939, played during his iconic MTV Unplugged performance (estimate: $800,000 – $1.2M) and his psychedelic 1964 Gibson SG known as The Fool used on stage and in the studio in the late 1960s with the rock supergroup Cream(estimate: $800,000-$1.2M)
• Jack Kerouacs original typescript scroll ofOn The Road, the definitive Beat Generation novel (estimate: $2.5M – $4M)
• Wayne Gretzkysjersey from 1986-87, worn when he scored his 500th NHL goal and during game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup finals, when the Oilers defeated the Flyers (estimate: $300,000 – $500,000)
• Muhammad Alis WBC Heavyweight Championship Belt, won following his victory over George Foreman in the famed Rumble in the Jungle October 30, 1974, inKinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (estimate: $2.5M – $4M)
• Muhammad Alis boots, used in the Thrilla in Manila fight against Joe Frazier, held on October 1, 1975 in thePhilippines (estimate: $200,000 – $300,000)
• Secretariats saddle from the famed horses United States Triple Crown win in 1973 (comprising the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes) from the collection of the winning jockey, Ron Turcotte (estimate: $1.5M – $2M)
• Sylvester Stallones handwritten script notebook for the 1976 Academy-Award-winning filmRocky(estimate: $200,000 – $400,000)
• Bob Dylans handwritten lyrics to the song The Times They Are A-Changin (estimate: $500,000 – $800,000)
• PrincesAndy Beech custom Yellow Cloud guitar (estimate: $100,000 – $150,000)
• Johnny Cashs C.F. Martin & Co. D-21, 1956, (estimate: $200,000 – $400,000)
• John Coltranes Yamaha Nippon Gakki Alto Saxophone, played by Coltrane during his Japan appearances in 1966 (estimate: $40,000 – $60,000)
• Miles DavissMartin Committee Trumpet, used during his 1984 Montreux Jazz Festival performance (estimate: $100,000 – $150,000)
• Elton Johns Steinway Model D Grand Piano, used on tour from the mid-1970s and in concerts worldwide. This piano was once loaned to Freddie Mercury of Queen for the bands 1977Day at the Racestour, was played by Paul McCartney at Live Aids Wembley Stadium show in 1985 (estimate: $600,000 – $1M)
• Jim Morrisons journal with over 100 pages of handwritten notes, compositions, poems and sketches (estimate: $100,000 – $200,000)
• An incredibly rare promotional poster for the Winter Dance Party concert at Moorhead Armory, Moorhead, MN on February 3, 1959, scheduled to featureBuddy Holly, theBig Bopper, andRitchie Valenswho were killed in a plane crash on their way to the show, an event later dubbed The Day The Music Died in the Don McLean song American Pie (estimate: $300,000 – $500,000)
• Wilson volleyball featured in the 2000 filmCastawaystarringTom Hanks(estimate: $60,000 – $80,000)
• James Browns stage-worn sequined cape (estimate: $30,000 – $50,000)
• Hunter S. Thompsons 1973 Chevy Caprice convertible The Red Shark, featured in the 1998 movieFear and Loathing in Las Vegasstarring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro (estimate: $150,000 – $250,000)
• Jackie Robinsons game-used 1953 Hillerich & Bradsby professional model O16 bat (estimate: $250,000 – $350,000)
• Steve Jobs a rare handwritten letter to Tim Brown, questioning whether Jobs wanted to stop working (estimate: $250,000 – $500,000) and an Apple II Manual, inscribed and signed by Jobs (estimate: $300,000 – $800,000)

The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Popular Culture

Friday, March 13

This sale of nearly 150 lots includes further objects of popular culture and memorabilia. Highlights include:

• Neal Schons Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe, used to record Journeys 1981 hit single Dont Stop Believin (estimate: $150,000 – $250,000)
• Bob DylansGibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar played during the 1993 inaugural concert for President-Elect Bill Clinton (estimate: $60,000 – $100,000)
• Janis Joplins Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar, on which she first learned Me and Bobby McGee and played it for the first time in concert in 1969 (estimate: $60,000 – $100,000)
• Dusty Hills Dean Original fur bass, used in ZZ Tops music video for the song Legs (estimate: $100,000 – $300,000)
• Hfner Beatles bass with pickguard signed byPaul McCartney(estimate: $8,000 – $12,000)
• Two guitars belonging to Green DaysBillie Joe Armstrong(estimates: $8,000 $12,000 and $6,000 $9,000)
• Guitars signed byBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,The Who, members ofThe Rolling Stones,Bob Dylan, and more (various estimates)
• Ringo Starrs RIAA gold record for The Beatles song I Want To Hold Your Hand, signed by George Harrison as George (estimate: $30,000 – $60,000)
• A rare page of working lyrics for the Beatles song Maxwells Silver Hammer, written out by Beatles road manager Mal Evans, with several edits inPaul McCartneys hand (estimate: $20,000 – $30,000)
• Elton Johns prescription glasses (estimate: $8,000 – $12,000)
• Jim Morrisons stage-used Electro-Voice EV-676G microphone (estimate: $20,000 – $40,000)
• Umpires locker used byThe Beatlesduring their performance at Shea Stadium in 1965 (estimate: $3,000 – $5,000)
• Liverpool airport poster signed by all fourBeatlesin 1964 (estimate: $30,000 – $50,000)
• The Godfatherproduction script, a second draft in the original black studio wrappers belonging to character actor Randy Jurgensen who played Sonnys Killer #1 (estimate $4,000 – $6,000)
• A pair of blue Santoni boots worn bySylvester Stallonewhen he was training for the movieRocky Balboa(estimate $4,000 – $6,000)
• Golden ticket from the 1971 movieWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(estimate: $60,000 – $120,000)
• Al Pacinos annotated script to the movieScarface, with several markings in Pacinos handwriting helping him pronounce words in a Cuban accent (estimate: $30,000 – $50,000)
• Glasses worn byMike Myersin the movieAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery(estimate: $8,000 – $12,000)
• SeveralBabe Ruthautographs, including a ball signed by both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrigcirca1927-1931 (estimate: $25,000 – $50,000)
• Original and only typescript scroll ofJack KerouacsThe Dharma Bums(estimate: $300,000 – $500,000)
• Hunter S. Thompsons personal first edition copy of Jack KerouacsThe Dharma Bums(estimate: $2,000 – $3,000)

The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Music

Saturday, March 14

This auction of around 80 lots includes incredible vintage guitars and custom-built examples, celebrating the best of American guitar design and craftsmanship. Highlights include:

• 1958 Gibson Les Paul Model, Sunburst (estimate: $250,000 – $450,000)
• 1960 Gibson Les Paul Model, Sunburst (estimate: $200,000 – $300,000)
• 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard,Bigsby Burst (estimate: $200,000 – $300,000)
• 1939 C.F. Martin & Co. D-45 Acoustic (estimate: $250,000 – $350,000)
• 1938 C.F. Martin & Co. D-18 Acoustic (estimate: $40,000 – $60,000) 1957 Fender Stratocaster, Sunburst (estimate: $35,000 – $55,000)
• Gibson Custom Order Flying V, Circa 1971 (estimate: $50,000 – $80,000)
• 1963 Gibson Everly Brothers Acoustic (estimate: $12,000 – $18,000)

The Jim Irsay Collection: Online

Tuesday, March 3 to Tuesday, March 17

Around 125 lots, this auction includes guitars (vintage and signature models), autographs, rare photos, and memorabilia, with many lots starting with a low estimate under $5,000 (and some for under $1,000; for example, aJoe Walshguitar slide and a signed pamphlet byMuhammad Aliboth have low estimates of $100).

A limited-edition printed catalogue is available for purchase:

Pre Order athttps://store.christies.com/product/the-jim-irsay-collection-hall-of-fame

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