Pattie Boyd’s collection sale was a completed Christie’s online auction held from March 8 to 22, 2024—not a current sale. It brought together personal correspondence, music-related manuscripts and artwork, photographs, fashion, jewellery and watches. Christie’s reported that all 116 lots sold, bringing in £2,818,184 ($3,604,457; €3,291,639).
What was in Pattie Boyd’s collection sale?
The sale offered items from Boyd’s life and relationships with George Harrison and Eric Clapton, as well as objects connected to her photography and personal style. Christie’s preview described a mix of love letters, drawings, photographs, fashion, jewellery and watches.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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D'Addario Beatles Guitar Picks Logo, Tin | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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D'Addario Beatles Guitar Picks Sgt. Pepper, Tin | $9.09 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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D'Addario Beatles Guitar Picks Stripes, Tin | $11.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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D'Addario Beatles Guitar Picks Albums Medium, Tin | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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D'Addario Beatles Guitar Picks Meet the Beatles Heavy, Tin | $12.19 | Buy on Amazon |
Among the music-related material were a George Harrison design doodle for an Apple Records LP label, his handwritten lyrics for “Mystical One,” and Clapton’s handwritten set list and lyrics for the unreleased song “Sweet Eloraine.” The collection also included Boyd’s photographs of the Beatles in India and of Boyd and Harrison at their Surrey home, plus a Polaroid of Clapton with his Fender Stratocaster “Blackie.” Christie’s also identified gifts from Clapton, including a Rolex and a commissioned fairy pendant. These descriptions are from Christie’s sale preview and catalogue.
Which items sold for the most?
Christie’s published the following results on March 22, 2024. Sale prices below are the reported realized amounts; estimates are pre-sale estimates, not final prices.
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#1 Best Overall
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| Item | Pre-sale estimate | Reported sale price |
|---|---|---|
| Original artwork used for the 1970 Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs album cover | £40,000–60,000 | £1,976,000 / $2,527,304 / €2,307,968 |
| Eric Clapton’s handwritten “Of mice and men” letter, dated 1971 | £10,000–15,000 | £119,700 / $153,096 / €139,810 |
| Clapton’s handwritten “Dearest L” letter | £10,000–15,000 | £107,100 / $136,981 / €125,093 |
| Photographs of the Beatles in India, 1968 | £3,000–5,000 | £52,920 / $67,685 / €61,811 |
| George Harrison’s handwritten lyrics for “Mystical One” | £30,000–50,000 | £47,800 |
Christie’s reports estimates separately from results; its estimates exclude buyer’s premium. The figures in the results release are the auction house’s reported sale prices.
Why did the Layla cover painting attract attention?
The original painting used for Derek and The Dominos’ 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs was the leading lot. Christie’s said Eric Clapton acquired it from the son of its artist, Frandsen De Schomberg, during a 1970 stay at the artist’s home in France. According to Christie’s, Clapton was struck by the painting’s resemblance to Boyd; that is the auction house’s account of the association, not evidence here of the artist’s intent.
Rank #2
- Beatles Guitar Picks with Collectible Tin: This set features 15 high quality celluloid guitar picks with iconic and highly detailed Beatles images in a collectible tin that honors the most influential pop band in music history
- Fab Four Legacy: D’Addario honors The Beatles with a unique selection of highly collectible guitar picks and straps featuring iconic album covers and timeless images that capture the enduring spirit and essence of the Fab Four
- Sound Your Best: From Celluloid and Duralin to Cortex and Nylon, we have a pick for every guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, pedal steel, and banjo player; Choose from popular gauges and materials, plus signature picks, thumb picks, and variety packs
- Sound Better, Play Better: Shop our whole collection of guitar accessories including string winders, picks, straps, capos, tuners, cables, gear bags and cases, plus strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukelele and more
- D'Addario: As the world’s largest and most respected maker of musical accessories, we are committed to sustainably providing musicians with the most innovative musical accessories in the world
How to distinguish the 2024 Boyd sale from the 2026 “Pattie” guitar auction
A later Heritage auction can create confusion because its lot was a Gibson guitar nicknamed “Pattie.” It was not part of Boyd’s Christie’s collection sale, and the reviewed auction material does not establish that Boyd owned or sold it.
| Boyd collection | Gibson “Pattie” | |
|---|---|---|
| Auction house and date | Christie’s online sale, March 8–22, 2024 | Heritage auction, May 8, 2026 |
| What was sold | 116 lots, including letters, artwork, manuscripts, photographs, fashion, jewellery and watches | A 1913 Gibson Style O archtop guitar, serial number 14106 |
| Reported result | Christie’s reported total proceeds of £2,818,184 / $3,604,457 / €3,291,639; 100% sold | Heritage’s lot record reports a $200,000 sale price |
| Connection to Boyd | Boyd’s collection sale | The guitar was described as named for Boyd; the reviewed material does not say she owned or sold it |
Heritage’s account says Clapton passed the guitar to Delaney Bramlett around 1970; it remained with Bramlett until his death in 2008 and was sold in a 2013 estate auction. Heritage also attributes songwriting sessions involving Harrison and Clapton to the instrument. Those are Heritage’s auction-house claims, rather than independently established session documentation in the sources cited here.
Rank #3
- Beatles Guitar Picks with Collectible Tin: This set features 15 high quality celluloid guitar picks with iconic and highly detailed Beatles images in a collectible tin that honors the most influential pop band in music history
- Fab Four Legacy: D’Addario honors The Beatles with a unique selection of highly collectible guitar picks and straps featuring iconic album covers and timeless images that capture the enduring spirit and essence of the Fab Four
- Sound Your Best: From Celluloid and Duralin to Cortex and Nylon, we have a pick for every guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, pedal steel, and banjo player; Choose from popular gauges and materials, plus signature picks, thumb picks, and variety packs
- Sound Better, Play Better: Shop our whole collection of guitar accessories including string winders, picks, straps, capos, tuners, cables, gear bags and cases, plus strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukelele and more
- D'Addario: As the world’s largest and most respected maker of musical accessories, we are committed to sustainably providing musicians with the most innovative musical accessories in the world
What did Boyd say about the sale?
In Christie’s March 22, 2024 results release, Boyd said: “I am completely blown away by the enthusiasm of international bidders for these special treasures that I have always loved. I am so happy that new hearts will now enjoy them, as they enter into their next ‘chapters.’ I am lucky that my life today continues to bring me joy and different adventures – I would encourage people to follow their passions and live their lives with gusto!”
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Beatles Guitar Picks: This set features 10 high quality celluloid guitar picks with iconic and highly detailed Beatles images in honor of the most influential pop band in music history
- Fab Four Legacy: D’Addario honors The Beatles with a unique selection of highly collectible guitar picks and straps featuring iconic album covers and timeless images that capture the enduring spirit and essence of the Fab Four
- Sound Your Best: From Celluloid and Duralin to Cortex and Nylon, we have a pick for every guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, pedal steel, and banjo player; Choose from popular gauges and materials, plus signature picks, thumb picks, and variety packs
- Sound Better, Play Better: Shop our whole collection of guitar accessories including string winders, picks, straps, capos, tuners, cables, gear bags and cases, plus strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukelele and more
- D'Addario: As the world’s largest and most respected maker of musical accessories, we are committed to sustainably providing musicians with the most innovative musical accessories in the world
Rank #4
- Beatles Guitar Picks: This set features 10 high quality celluloid guitar picks with iconic and highly detailed Beatles images in honor of the most influential pop band in music history
- Fab Four Legacy: D’Addario honors The Beatles with a unique selection of highly collectible guitar picks and straps featuring iconic album covers and timeless images that capture the enduring spirit and essence of the Fab Four
- Sound Your Best: From Celluloid and Duralin to Cortex and Nylon, we have a pick for every guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, pedal steel, and banjo player; Choose from popular gauges and materials, plus signature picks, thumb picks, and variety packs
- Sound Better, Play Better: Shop our whole collection of guitar accessories including string winders, picks, straps, capos, tuners, cables, gear bags and cases, plus strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukelele and more
- D'Addario: As the world’s largest and most respected maker of musical accessories, we are committed to sustainably providing musicians with the most innovative musical accessories in the world
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