Legendary Autograph Collection Fetches Over £55,000 at Bristol Auction House
A remarkable collection of over seven thousand autographs, featuring a self-portrait of Beatles legend John Lennon and Yoko Ono, recently fetched more than £55 thousand at an auction house in Bristol. The collection belonged to Jan van Bree, a Dutchman who began his autograph collection in 1957 after receiving a handwritten reply from Italian singer Beniamino Gigli. Van Bree amassed signatures from celebrities worldwide through letters, personal encounters, and purchasing historical autographs. The auctioneers hailed the collection as the finest they had ever seen, comprising signed cheques, programmes, and letters.
Among the notable autographs in the collection are those of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Albert Einstein, and Mr. Bean. The auction also featured a letter from Einstein that sold for £2700. Andrew Stowe of Auctioneum, which operates in Bristol and Bath, expressed his admiration for the diverse range of signatures in Jan's collection. The assortment includes autographs from various historical, entertainment, and political figures, spanning from sixteenth-century royalty to contemporary icons like Black Sabbath and John Steinbeck.
Jan van Bree meticulously stored most of his autographs in albums, with hundreds more kept loose. Following his passing in April 2024, his family decided to put the collection up for auction. The extensive array of autographs offers a comprehensive "who's who" of famous signatures, showcasing a blend of historical figures, entertainment icons, and political leaders. If you're looking for a quick and expert overview of the latest news stories, tune in to our podcasts for What You Need To Know.