Jimi Hendrix Owned and Worn Gypsy Style Vest Leads Entertainment and Music Auction

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A stunning Jimi Hendrix owned and worn gypsy-style vest, a gift to Stevens Weiss, Hendrix’s attorney and good friend, is expected to bring more than $15,000 as the lead music memorabilia lot in Heritage Auctions’ Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction on December 14. The heavyweight brown velvet and gold silk brocade vest with two hook and loop-style closures, several pockets and numerous tiny mirror appliqués among detailed and decorative stitching was worn by Hendrix in February 1969 (and almost certainly previous to that). “Weiss was in London for Hendrix’s Royal Albert Hall concerts,” said Garry Shrum, Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions, “and, backstage before one of the two shows, he mentioned to Hendrix how much he liked this vest. Hendrix immediately took it off and handed to him as a gift.” Rock and Roll history continues with an Elvis Presley (and other stars) used KWKH Shure Microphone, 1955-1975, the very mic used on Dec. 15, 1956, by Hayride announcer Horace Logan when he first coined the phrase: “Elvis has left the building.” It is estimated at $10,000+. The auction has a particularly deep lineup of choice Beatles memorabilia, much of which is already attracting significant collector buzz. A John Lennon signed “Bag One” leather case and original Erotic #2 lithograph #181/300 (1970), one of John’s controversial set of 14 issued in 1970, is expected to bring $7,000+. A Beatles Yesterday And Today very rare First State “Butcher Cover” LP (Capitol T2553, 1966) is estimated at $4,000+ and a Beatles “The White Album” LP (Apple 101, 1968) with a very low number, A0000023, once belonging to Paul McCartney’s 1960s girlfriend, Jane Asher, should bring more than $2,500.