John Lennon’s Personal “Butcher Cover” Album With His Original Artwork Is Up For Auction

The term “world class” is probably a bit over-used in describing collectibles. Labeling this unique, rare, and desirable Beatles item as “World Class” is not hyperbole. If anything, it does not do it justice. Offered here is the Yesterday And Today Stereo Prototype “Butcher Cover” that was owned by John Lennon and even displayed on the wall of his Dakota apartment until the point where he had an assistant take it down and deliver it to the Record Plant where he signed it in blue ink: “To Dave from/ John Lennon/ Dec 7th 71“. The recipient was Dave Morrell, a Beatles fan and bootleg collector who was in the studio showing John some of his memorabilia and bootleg material. The Butcher was given in essentially a trade for a reel-to-reel tape of the Yellow Matter Custard bootleg that Lennon desired. Lennon filled the blank back of the cover with an original piece of art in black ink. It fills the cover and depicts a man with a shovel and his dog, both posed in front of a setting sun. Interestingly, he incorporated various tears, stains, and flaws into the picture.

If you have (so far), $100,000 to spend, you can get it here.