John Lennon's iconic beatles suit for sale after being lost 40 years

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John Lennon's iconic mohair suit for sale at auction after being lost for 40 years
Suit is expected to fetch around £150,000
LUKE MORGAN BRITTON
29TH OCTOBER 2015



A suit belonging to John Lennon is to be sold at auction this week, having previously been lost for 40 years.

The beige, collarless mohair suits were worn by The Beatles during the early 60s and were made by London tailor Dougie Millings.

Lennon's suit was originally donated by manager Brian Epstein, along with the three other members' jackets, to London's Madame Tussauds for the first wax works of the band. However, it was misplaced and only found in 2006 at a warehouse owned by the company.

As reported by the Daily Express, the item will be sold on Friday (October 30) by online auction house Fame Bureau. Its value is estimated at £150,000.

James Wilkinson, of the Fame Bureau, said: "This suit changed attitudes and was a major cultural change. Before they had this makeover, the Beatles were rockers. They idolised Elvis and wore black leather jackets."

"But Brian Epstein had the foresight to change their appearance to a more wholesome look so they would appeal to a much wider audience, and these suits were a major part of that image. The result turned the Beatles into a clean-cut, media-friendly powerhouse. The suits traversed the Atlantic and the style was later imitated by many US musicians."



The sale is one of many Beatles-related auctions in recent months. A petition calling for Mick Jagger to star in a film version of A Clockwork Orange, signed by The Beatles, was recently up for sale.

Meanwhile, in September The Beatles' first management contract sold for £365,000 at auction.