[Elton John] | Collection of material related to Elton John, 1976-1991

[Elton John]

Collection of material related to Elton John, 1976-1991

Comprising:

Christie's, British and Irish Traditionalist and Modernist Paintings, Watercolours, Drawings and Sculpture, 27 September 1991, with invoice for Lot 74, Tuke, The Bathers, 1922, for £6,146.25, with manuscript note 'Gift for Elton'

Sotheby's, Elton John, 6-9 September 1988, Vols I-IV, in slipcase

Two tickets for Sasson Presents: Elton John at the Fabulous Forum, August 23 1984

Bernie Taupin and David Nutter | Elton: It's a Little Bit Funny. New York: Viking Press, 1977

Dick Tatham and Tony Jasper | Elton John. London: Octopus Books, 1976

"On Christmas Day, I learned that Freddie had left me one final testament to his selflessness. I was moping about when a friend showed up at my door and handed me something wrapped in a pillowcase. I opened it up, and inside was a painting by one of my favourite artists, the British painter Henry Scott Tuke. And there was a note from Freddie. Years before, Freddie and I had developed pet names for each other, our drag-queen alter egos. I was Sharon, and he was Melina. Freddie's note read, "Dear Sharon, I thought you'd like this. Love, Melina. Happy Christmas." I was overcome, forty-four years old at the time, crying like a child. Here was this beautiful man, dying from AIDS, and in his final days, he had somehow managed to find me a lovely Christmas present." Elton John, Love is the Cure: On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS (2012).

In accordance with Mary Austin’s wishes, 100% of the hammer price achieved for this lot will be donated to The Elton John Aids Foundation.