George Harrison guitar from 1963 brings $490,000 at auction; $122,000 for Elvis ‘penguin’ suit

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A guitar George Harrison played at a time when Beatlemania was taking flight has sold for nearly half a million dollars at a New York auction.

Julien’s Auctions says the 1963 Mastersound electric guitar went for $490,000 Friday to an undisclosed bidder. Julien’s says Harrison borrowed it from a British music store and played it on stage several times in England and in Channel Islands in the summer of 1963.

It was offered during a two-day rock memorabilia auction.

A so-called “penguin” suit that Elvis Presley wore on stage in Las Vegas in 1975 sold for nearly $122,000. Presley’s marriage certificate from his 1967 wedding to Priscilla Presley sold for over $40,000.

A vest worn by Jimi Hendrix sold for over $59,000. A tank top Madonna wore sold for $25,000.