Back to the Beatles, and a ship's log, penned by John Lennon during a stormy voyage to Bermuda back in 1980 is to be sold at auction next month and is expected to raise £25,000.
The book contains the former Beatle's descriptions of the trip, including the fact that he sang old Liverpool shanty songs whilst steering the ship. Lennon chartered the ship, the Megan Jaye, from Rhode Island, and was forced to take the helm when all the crew members fell ill "It was just like going on stage, at first you panic and then you're ready to throw up your guts," he wrote, "but once you got out there and start doing your stuff you forget your fears and you got high on your performance." He later credited the journey with helping him to overcome writer's block, enabling him to go on and create his 'Double Fantasy' album.
Also up for grabs at the 18 Apr sale by auctioneers Cooper Owen is an old school book of Lennon's expected to fetch around £10k, and a letter from Lennon and fellow Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr to Linda McCartney's father Lee Eastman, which, as previously reported, was sold last year for £48,000, and is now back up for sale with an estimate of £100,000. Whether the items will realise their estimates remains to be seen, of course; it wouldn't seem to be a foregone conclusion, however, given that similar memorabilia has failed to sell in recent months.