Catalog - Gut-Lynt Auction 12

1

1 Dollar 1969 With hand-written words and signature of John Lennon. With a certificate of authentication from one of the world’s leading Beatles handwriting experts (Tracks Ltd., Chorley, Lancashire, GB). Pick 449c. III / Very fine.
It was in December of 1970, when John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono realized one of their experimental films. The Beatles had already officially disbanded in April 1970, and Lennon was able to take on new projects that interested him for long time. The film with the original name "up your legs forever” (now also known as “Legs for Peace”) is about 75 minutes long and each 8 to 12 seconds, about 300 different pairs of legs of spontaneous and voluntary people can be seen, filmed from the toes up to about mid-thigh. The recordings were made in the studio of the Syndicate Photo, 7 Floor of the New York 3 West 61 Street. As John and Yoko did not have work permits the filming was done by their friend Dan Ritcher. On 14th or on 16th of December the son of the studio owner was also in these premises, in order to take some photos from the set. Upon being asked by John Lennon if he wanted to be part of the film he seized his chance and said „sure why not”. It should be noted that the young man was wearing a prosthetic leg because of an amputation (later he would also lose his second leg). After shooting the short scene, he asked John Lennon for an autograph. Lennon took out a one-dollar bill and wrote "Thanks for legs / John Lennon"; macabre in view of the leg amputation. Now that the experimental film in its entire length is quite tiring, you can find nowadays short versions on “YouTube”. User "BritHumor2" has cut down the film to 8:40 minutes. And really, between minute 6:52 and 7:01 there is a sequence where someone stands with only one leg and a prosthetic leg. This one-dollar bill with the hand-written words and the signature of John Lennon has been preserved and thus connects Numismatics with music history. With a certificate of authentication from one of the world’s leading Beatles handwriting experts (Tracks Ltd., Chorley, Lancashire, GB).