Few bands hold the universally beloved status of The Beatles — and few fans have the opportunity to build a collection of the group’s most iconic objects and memorabilia. During his life, the late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay amassed one of the greatest collections of music, film and sports memorabilia and historic Americana ever assembled, including an unrivalled selection of more than 30 items connected to the Fab Four. On 12 March 2026, Christie’s will present The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame in New York, the first in a series of sales featuring his game-changing treasures.
Irsay’s holdings include famous guitars once owned by George Harrison and John Lennon, Ringo Starr’s drum kit and more indisputable pieces of music history. ‘This collection has been a revelation to me: I wasn’t aware that any one person had acquired so much high-end Beatles material,’ says Mark Lewisohn, an English historian, biographer and Beatles authority, who is currently working on The Beatles: All These Years, a biographical trilogy on the band. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an impressive gathering of Beatles instruments in one place as I did when I viewed highlights from the Jim Irsay Collection at Christie’s in London. It was like going around a brilliant Beatles museum.’
Below, Lewisohn discusses a few striking Beatles objects from the sale — and the fascinating stories behind them.