The Artistry of The Guitar ...a landmark collection at auction

AUCTION PREVIEW GOING ON NOW - April 1st
View this magnificent collection on display now at the Bohemian National Hall


Auction:
April 2 & 3, 2014
7:00PM (Each Evening)

Public Preview:
April 1: 10AM - 9PM
April 2: 10AM - 7PM
April 3: 10AM - 7PM
(for instruments to be sold that evening only)

Auction Location:
Bohemian National Hall
321 East 73rd Street
New York, NY

Online Bidding:
www.liveauctioneers.com
www.invaluable.com
www.proxibid.com

Advance Showings:
Limited advance preview events are scheduled.
For more information, please contact Guernsey's

Absentee Bidding:
By e-mail, mail and telephone

Catalogue:
$40 per catalogue
$52 by Priority Mail in the U.S
$88 Internationally


Every so often, a remarkable collection is sold at auction. In this way, paintings by Picasso, historic racing Ferraris and other forms of the most sought after items get dispersed to passionate collectors seeking the rarest and best. Such is the case with Guernsey's April 2 & 3 Auction of a stunningly beautiful collection of the finest guitars. Assembled by a gentleman over a period of four decades, there is little in the way of precedent when looking for a comparison to the extraordinary instruments that soon will be sold. The event will be held live at New York City's stylish Bohemian National Center with multiple accommodations for those unable to attend.

Imagine a broad array - nearly three hundred instruments in all - of historic Martin, Gibson, Epiphone, Gretsch, Washburn, Stromberg and Larson Brothers guitars. Bid on treasures created by such talented craftsmen as Torres, D'Angelico and Simplicio. The fifty extraordinary Martins include an 1840s Martin & Coupa, various OM-28, F-9, 00-45, D-28, and D-45 models and the rarest of the rare, a 1930 OM-45 Deluxe. Of the many Gibsons are Super 400s, SJ-200s, L-5s, Nick Lucas models and a one-of-a-kind Super 400 Flattop. The dozen D'Angelicos include New Yorkers, Excels, a Special, a Style A and a mandolin. And then there are instruments made noteworthy by the legendary musicians who played them. But this is just a taste, a sampling of the excitement in store for those who take part in what certainly will be a memorable event.

Guernsey's has produced a comprehensive, handsomely photographed catalogue documenting the many instruments in the auction. Several noted experts have provided detailed descriptions. To acquire the auction book and receive more complete details about this important auction, please contact Guernseys.

Guitar Condition Reports

In February, 2014, Guernsey's employed independent expert Fred Oster to view each of the instruments in the upcoming April 2 & 3 Auction for the purpose of determining which, if any, had any noteworthy condition issues. Mr. Oster is highly regarded for his experience with fine instruments, was the former Dept. Head of Musical Instruments for Christie's in New York and regularly appears on the Antiques Roadshow where he assesses guitars. He, along with his associate, Catherine Jacobs, spent considerable time viewing each of the auction instruments. The team's overall impression was that the vast majority of these beautiful instruments were in the condition one would hope to find them in after years of proper care. In most instances they exhibit a fine and appropriate patina. As such, in the opinion of these experts, condition comments for many of the instruments were unnecessary. Where comments were deemed appropriate, they appear here.

Catalogue

A beautifully designed catalogue will be available in an extremely limited edition. Click here to order your Artistry of the Guitar copy.

Online Bidding

Those who are unable to attend the auction but would like to participate can view the full catalogue online, and leave advance absentee bids, as well as bid live as the sale is taking place at www.liveauctioneers.com, www.invaluable.com and www.proxibid.com.

Estimates

Those intererested in bidding at The Artistry of The Guitar auction should review the Auction Estimates.

Post Auction Offers

All top bidders can review their offers by clicking on the final Post Auction Offers list.

Prices Realized

Those interested in reviewing The Artistry of the Guitar results. Please Click here

Links

Interested bidders should also review the Terms & Conditions, as well as the Bidder Agreement form, and the Absentee Bid form.

Press

Guernsey's welcomes inquiries from the media regarding both past and upcoming events. PDF copies of the press release and links to media coverage of our Artistry of the Guitar Auction are available below:

Press Release (April 2 & 3, 2014)
"A Collection of 250 remarkable acoustic guitars goes on the auction block" (The Daily Beast, April 1, 2014)
"1930 Martin guitar to be auctioned in New York City - to tune of $2 Million" (Daily News, April 1, 2014)
"Rock fans amped up for iconic guitar auction" (New York Post, March 30, 2014)
"Guernsey's Artistry of the Guitar Auction Starts April 2" (Robb Report, March 25, 2014)
"Vintage Guitars Strike a Major Chord for Collectors" (Bloomberg TV, March 21, 2014)
"Inside Guernsey's vintage guitar auction" (CNN Money, March 11, 2014)
"'Holy Grail' Guitars to Be Auctioned" (MWN, March 7, 2014)
"Holy grail of guitars among those in NY auction" (Orange County Register, March 7, 2014)
"World's Rarest Guitars Auction" (CNBC, February 26, 2014)
"Vintage Guitar Sale" (New York Times, February 21, 2014)
"Strings attached: Guitar auction expected to rake in big bucks" (Crain's New York, February 20, 2014)


"Vintage Guitars Strike a Major Chord for Collectors", Bloomberg TV


"'Holy Grail' Guitars to Be Auctioned", Associated Press


"World's Rarest Guitars Auction", CNBC


Following is a small sampling of the significant items to be sold:

Lot 4. 1935 Martin 000-28

Lot 13. 1900 Manuel Ramirez Flamenco

Lot 31. 1954 Gibson Super 400CN

Lot 35. 1950 Gibson SJ-200

Lot 47. 1935 Martin F-9

Lot 49. C. 1890'S Washburn Style 309 Grand Concert

Lot 58. 1929 Gibson HG-24

Lot 61. 1949 Epiphone Concert

Lot 62. 1939 Gibson Super 400 Premiere

Lot 69. C. 1939 Gretsch Synchromatic 400

Lot 80. 1934 D'Angelico Excel

Lot 86. 1935 Gibson Super 400 flattop Custom

Lot 90. 1930 Martin OM-45 Deluxe

Lot 98. C. 1940'S Stromberg Deluxe cutaway

Lot 103. 1959 Gibson J-200

Lot 113. 1944 Martin D-28

Lot 126. 1927 Francisco Simplicio

Lot 135. 1940 Gibson ES-250

Lot 141. 1931 Martin OM-28

Lot 148. 1955 D'Angelico New Yorker

Lot 149. C. 1899 Larson/Maurer presentation

Lot 159. 1941 Gibson SJ-200

Lot 165. 1928 Martin 00-45

Lot 169. 1927 Gibson L-5

Lot 180. 1862 Antonio de Torres

Lot 185. 1936 Epiphone Emperor

Lot 199. 1943 Martin 000-42

Lot 205. 1927 Gibson L-4