John Lennon | Christie's

John Lennon

Details

John Lennon
A rare autograph letter, signed, sent to a friend/fan Lindy, [n.d. but December 1962 during the Beatles' final club trip to Hamburg] written on either side of a sheet of blue airmail writing paper, Lennon's disenchantment with the situation in Germany is reflected throughout the letter even with the address given as The Shit House, Hamburg, Lennon's anger, bitterness and frustration predominates his tone, he tells Lindy ....you're a gas man. I can't think of anything funny for you cause I'm so cheesed off I could bloody cry. I hate Hamburg and I wish I was at home.....This letter won't be a long one cause I'm tired and I don't feel like writing ...I haven't answered any other letters cause I'm fed up -- everyone will think I'm a bastard but I don't care so there....We'll be home next Sunday so I will see you in a week or something if you care if not keep praying, love from john xxxxxxxxxx, annotated with a rare self-portrait sketch of his naked body nailed to a cross, beside a guitar similarly crucified, ending with a post-script P.S. wish I was there 1p.; with corresponding envelope frankmarked HAMBURG 1[??] 62-12, addressed in Lennon's hand Lindy, 15 Linkstor Road, Woolton !, Liverpool 25, England, inscribed next to the airmail mark so what, additionally inscribed on the reverse from John, with a small crucifix motif and 'code' lettering S.W.A.B. and N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

Literature

LEWISOHN, Mark The Complete Beatles Chronicle, London: Pyramid books, 1992, p.86
John Lennon In His Own Words, London: Omnibus Press, 1980, p.59
The Complete Beatles Lyrics, London: Omnibus Press, 1982, p.190

Lot Essay

This is the only known example of a self-portrait sketch of John Lennon on a cross. It is amusing to speculate that this drawing possibly foreshadows his controversial comment We're more popular than Jesus now... in an interview with Maureen Cleave for the Evening Standard in March, 1966. Or the lines from his 1969 hit The Ballad of John and Yoko - ...Christ! You know it ain't easy,/You know how hard it can be. The way things are going,/They're going to crucify me...

The Beatles were very reluctant to fulfil their commitment to their fifth and last club trip to Hamburg beteen 18th-31st December, 1962, which followed their chart success with their first single Love Me Do and radio, television and prestigious live bookings in England. As Mark Lewisohn says ...all the four could think about was getting back home to capitalise on their success...

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