NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Some of the most famous instruments in rock history will be on display this weekend at Christie’s in Manhattan.
For a limited time, fans will be able to see guitars and memorabilia from legends like Kurt Cobain, Jerry Garcia, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Prince, The Edge, and more.
The Jim Irsay Collection is free to the public. It’s located at 20 Rockefeller Plaza.
The exhibit will feature hundreds of items documenting 100 years of pop culture history, varying from literature and music to sports and film.
Some of the items that will be on display include:
Guitars & Music
Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar
Jerry Garcia’s custom-built and beloved “Tiger” guitar
Ringo Starr’s bass and snare drum from The Beatles’ “Ed Sullivan Show” appearance
Ringo Starr’s drum kit from all early Beatles recordings, including “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me”
George Harrison’s Gibson SG that was used on “Revolver” and on tour
John Lennon’s upright piano that was used to compose much of the album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
Items from The Beatles’ performance at Shea Stadium
David Gilmore’s Black Strat
Guitars from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Janice Joplin, Prince, The Edge, and many others
John Coltrane’s saxophone
Neal Schon’s guitar that was used on the 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Handwritten song lyrics from Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney
Books & Film
Original typescript scroll of Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road”
Original scroll of Kerouac’s “The Dharma Bums”
Signed first edition of “Howl!” By Allen Ginsberg
First edition of “Catcher in the Rye”
Hunter S. Thompson’s sneakers, personal copy of The Dharma Bums, and personal car that was used in the film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
A handwritten “Rocky” script from Sylvester Stallone
The boots Sylvester Stallone wore in the latest “Rocky” film
“Wilson,” the volleyball from the film “Castaway”
A golden ticket from the original film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”
Sports
Secretariat’s saddle from his Triple Crown run
Wayne Gretzky’s 500th goal jersey
Muhammad Ali’s robe and gloves
Signed ball by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
A collector’s dream
Some items will also be offered at auction next Thursday. Among them is Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang guitar from the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video, estimated at $2.5 million to $5 million.
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
Other historic pieces include Jackie Robinson’s bat, valued at more than $300,000, and Muhammad Ali’s robe and gloves.
The collection will be available for public viewing until next Thursday.
Fans can view other items being auctioned by clicking here.
Nicole Alarcon is an award-winning digital content producer. She has covered local news for the tri-state area since 2021. She joined PIX11 News in 2026. See more of her work here.
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