This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2008
Offered up here from the very height of Beatlemania is a black suit jacket with striped pants made for John Lennon to be used in the band's debut film, "A Hard Day's Night". The outfit was commissioned by United Artists for use in the film and was made by stage tailor, Dougie Millings, maker of virtually all of The Beatles' stage clothing. Millings used to keep track of his orders through a consecutive numbering system. This particular outfit was part of order #722, which also included the white terrycloth robe worn briefly for the film by Lennon in the bathtub scene. The black jacket's outer shell is made of heavy cheviot wool with flared, single-button sleeves. This sleeve design is generally unique, but a common trait of Dougie Millings stage jackets of this era. The coat is further identified by its single-button front recalling its early 60s London pedigree. The inside labeling consists of (1) the traditional "D.A. Millings & Son" label above the right inside breast area and (2) a "D.A. Millings" hand label sewn into the rear collar area. It is this label that contains the handwritten "John Lennon Beatles film o/n 722" information. The coat measures to an American size 38 regular which is consistent with other original Lennon clothing of this time period. The pinstripe trousers are made of a considerably lighter weight wool serge fabric and again bear all the distinctive Millings stitching and labeling, even mentioning the bathrobe as part of this particular order number. The outfit was sold originally through Bonham's auction house in August, 1995. The vendor at that time had been given the suit by Dougie Millings after the film was completed. World recognized expert in The Beatles suits and worn apparel, Russ Lease, has examined this suit in person and his letter of authenticity detailing his findings accompanies this lot. Russ examined each frame of the movie and concludes that throughout most of the movie John Lennon is wearing a black suit but that the number of buttons cannot be determined definitively. Although it does not clearly appear that John Lennon wore this particular suit in the HDN movie our expert states that his examination proves that it is absolutely one of the 5 or 6 suits made expressly for John Lennon for the HDN movie. He has no doubt of the suit's authenticity and the great probability that John Lennon did indeed wear it in the movie or in one of the scenes cut out of the movie. Original Beatle-owned clothing from the Beatle period has become quite scarce over the years. Consequently, when it is consigned for auction it is quite apt to bring top dollar. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000.