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TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL LIVED - WHITE GLOVE SALE

GLOBAL ICON DRAWS BIDDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

April 20, 2024

TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL LIVED: A WHITE GLOVE SALE ACHIEVES FOUR TIMES THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE

1965 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SIGNED LETTER, 2005 KENNEDY CENTER HONORS AWARD, BRONZE HARRY BELAFONTE HAND SCULPTED BUST, AMY WINEHOUSE SIGNED LYRICS, AND MORE CLOSE OUT TWO-DAY AFFAIR

New York, NY – April 19, 2024 — Julien's Auctions "TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL LIVED" concluded today with the grand finale of a celebration that kicked off on April 8th at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco and continued at the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame in Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Collectors were captivated by the extraordinary artifacts auctioned over the past two days, each one a testament to Bennett's enduring legacy, offering an intimate glimpse into the highly decorated, award-winning pop-jazz legend's life and achievements.

"TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL LIVED," an immensely successful two-day auction culminated with a total of over $2.1 million, four times the pre-sale estimate. Collectors came together from countries all over the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Spain, Singapore, Switzerland, Australia and more, garnering nearly 14,000 bids.

Items reflecting Bennett’s legacy as a global icon and civil rights activist, appeared such as today’s top selling item, Tony Bennett's signed Martin Luther King, Jr. letter garnering an impressive $78,000, nearly four times its initial estimate of $20,000. Other highlights included a bronze Harry Belafonte portrait bust sculpted by Bennett, his Robert F. Kennedy “A Ripple of Hope” honoree statuette, his 2005 Kennedy Center Honors Award, Amy Winehouse signed sheet music, and more.

Auction Highlights:

Tony Bennett

Sinatra Family Gifted Family Crest Signet Ring

Sold Price

$63,500

Estimate:

$3,000 - $5,000

The ring features a crowned rampant lion with three stars, the Sinatra family crest from Sicily. Frank Sinatra commissioned 12 copies of his own gold pinky ring featuring the Sinatra family crest to give to close friends and family members. The Sinatra Family gave one of these commissioned copies to Tony Bennett as a gift of thanks on the occasion of the establishment of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a New York City public high school founded by Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto in Astoria, Queens.

Tony Bennett

Martin Luther King, Jr. Typed Letter Signed On Selma March

Sold Price

$78,000

Estimate:

$20,000 - $30,000

A typed letter signed with autograph postscript, one page, on Martin Luther King, Jr. personal stationery, dated April 5, 1965, mounted to a white cardboard backing. Together with original transmittal envelope with printed return address for Martin Luther King, Jr. 332 Auburn Avenue, N. E. Atlanta Georgia, printed on verso. The envelope is addressed to Mr. Tony Bennett at his Englewood, New Jersey home and it is postmarked April 12, 1965 from Atlanta, Georgia.

Tony Bennett

Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Honoree Statuette

Sold Price

$6,500

Estimate:

$2,000 - $3,000

A “Ripple of Hope” honoree statuette featuring a sculptural image of RFK presented to Bennett in 2014. The plaque reads, "For Tony / Who, like Bobby, also makes gentle / the light of the world / Ethel [Kennedy, widow of RFK]." The bronzed metal statuette, signed and dated on the back "Bert 68," sold for $6,500, over three times its estimate of $200

Tony Bennett

Original Harry Belafonte Portrait Bust

Sold Price

$7,800

Estimate:

$1,000 - $1,500

A bronze portrait bust of Harry Belafonte, sculpted by Bennett, is mounted to a base with a plaque reading, "The Patriot / Benedetto / 2013," sold for $7,800, over seven and half times its estimate of $1000.

Tony Bennett

Amy Winehouse Signed Sheet Music

Sold Price

$7,800

Estimate:

$1,000 - $1,500

Sheet music for the song "Body and Soul" as performed by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse on the 2011 album Duets II, sold for $7,800, over seven and a half times its estimate of $1000.

Tony Bennett

Original Pencil Drawing of Lady Gaga From "Love for Sale" Album Cover

Sold Price

$19,500

Estimate:

$3,000 - $5,000

Bennett’s original pencil drawing of Lady Gaga from the "Love For Sale" album cover sold for $19,500, six and a half times its estimate.

Throughout the event, enthusiastic bidders seized the opportunity to own a piece of Tony Bennett's remarkable journey. The Sinatra family-gifted family crest signet ring was the standout piece from yesterday's auction, which fetched an astonishing $63,500, more than 21 times its estimate. Other unique items included Bennett’s original pencil drawing of Lady Gaga from the Love For Sale album cover sold for $19,500, and several original Bennett paintings and sketches.

Tony Bennett

Cartier "Cle De Cartier" Watch From Lady Gaga

Sold Price

$45,500

Estimate:

$7,000 - $9,000

Cartier 18K Rose Gold "Cle De Cartier" from Lady Gaga sold for $45,500, six and a half times its estimate of $7,000.

Tony Bennett

Original "After Monet's Gardens" Painting

Sold Price

$26,000

Estimate:

$4,000 - $6,000

Bennett’s original oil on canvas impressionist-style painting, “After Monet’s Gardens,” one in a series of paintings of Monet's Gardens, was framed and sold for $26,000, six and a half times its estimate $4000.

Tony Bennett

75th Birthday Book of Extraordinary Letters

Sold Price

$19,500

Estimate:

$8,000 - $12,000

The “75th Birthday Book of Extraordinary Letters,” which contains over 100 Pieces written by Martin Scorsese, Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Madonna, Elton John, and more, sold for $19,500, two times its estimate of $8000.

Tony Bennett

80th Birthday Book Of Sheet Music Inscribed By "Duets" Album Musicians

Sold Price

$19,500

Estimate:

$4,000 - $6,000

"80th Birthday Book of Sheet Music" inscribed By "Duets" album musicians sold for $19,500, over four and a half times its estimate of $4000.

Tony Bennett

Original Charlie Parker Portrait Painting

Sold Price

$13,000

Estimate:

$2,000 - $3,000

Bennett’s original "Charlie Parker" watercolor painting sold for $13,000, six and a half times its estimate of $600.

Tony Bennett

Original "Central Park West" Watercolor Painting

Sold Price

$10,400

Estimate:

$1,500 - $2,500

Bennett’s original “Central Park West” watercolor painting sold for $10,400, seven times its estimate of $1500.

Tony Bennett

Joe DiMaggio Signed Portrait Baseball

Sold Price

$5,200

Estimate:

$300 - $500

A Joe DiMaggio signed portrait baseball sold for $5,200, over five times its estimate of $300.

a black and white photo of a man with his hand on his chin

Live Auction

TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL-LIVED

Apr 18, 2024

7:00 AM PDT