John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for the Beatles song I’m Only Sleeping are tipped to fetch more than £200,000 when they are sold in London on Wednesday.
The first draft, written on the back of a phone bill, is part of a memorabilia auction at Christie’s in Kensington.
Other lots include a previously unheard interview with Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono and the only known recording of the Fab Four performing in Hong Kong.
Guitars from Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend also go under the hammer.

Written in blue felt pen on the reverse of a final demand from the Post Office, the working draft for I’m Only Sleeping is briefer than the final recorded version.

The reel-to-reel recording of the band playing at the Princess Theatre in Kowloon on 9 June 1964 is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £40,000.

The interview with John and Yoko, meanwhile - recorded at their “Bed-In for Peace” protest in Montreal in May 1969 - could reach up to £20,000.

According to Christie’s, the hour-long tape was never broadcast and has been locked away in a trunk ever since.

Fans can also bid for a George Harrison banjo, a catsuit once worn by Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and an acoustic guitar given to Noel Gallagher by Sony Records in 1995 to mark the success of Oasis’ second album.

The auction begins at Christie’s at 1400 BST.

Posted: 09|28|05 at 1:46 pm. Filed under: UK News.