Lennon's Christmas Card To Beatles Manager Sells For $8,600

LONDON (AP) April 28, 2000 - A hand-drawn Christmas card John Lennon sent to Beatles manager Brian Epstein sold for $8,600 at auction Thursday, 33 years after Epstein died from a sleeping pill overdose. However, the troubled manager's personal diary, chronicling Epstein's struggle to come to terms with his homosexuality, failed to generate the anticipated interest among buyers. The diary attracted a top bid of $12,000, well below the set minimum. The diary and card were put up for auction at Christie's in London by Epstein's former chauffeur, Bryan Barrett, 70. "I've never done this before and I'll probably never do it again," Barrett said. The auction included 15 guitars owned by songwriter and producer Lincoln "Chips" Moman. A 1956 Gibson Super 400 CES guitar given to Moman by Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore was sold for $108,000 to an unidentified buyer.