Lennon, John

blue ink, one correction, one page, 4to (10 x 8 in.; 255 x 205 mm), formerly folded

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"...'Sly down in that legchair madam and open your gorble wide - your mouse is all but toothless..."

A dialogue in which an enthusiastic dentist extracts a tooth, offering his patient in return "a free Nasty Heath [i.e. National Health] set" of false teeth, published on pp.22-23 of In His Own Write. The origin of this piece is remembered by Tom Maschler:

"I was frequently bemused as to how John came up with his ideas. There is one I can account for.

I happen to own a cottage in the Black Mountains in South Wales. One day, driving there I passed through the village of Ross-on-Wye where I came across an antique book fair. I picked up an Italian phrase book for the equivalent of 10p. I thought it made hilarious reading and so I gave the book to John. He liked it, especially the section that related to `Things one might say at the dentist’. For example one entry read: “I have me a terrible tooth pain”.

Next time I saw John he handed me a piece of paper entitled At The Denis."

Lennon's own teeth have now even become collector's items: one molar - "rather gruesome, yellowy, browny with a cavity" - which had been extracted in the mid-60s and given to the housekeeper at Kenwood, Dot Jarlett, was sold at auction in 2011 for  £19,500 ($31,300). In fact Lennon's dentist, John Riley, played a somewhat unexpected role in the development of '60s counterculture when, in April 1965, he introduced Lennon to LSD. Riley hosted a dinner party at which Lennon, together with his wife Cynthia, George Harrison and Patti Boyd, were all given coffee spiked with the drug.