Jerry Garcia guitar sells for $1.9m

jerry Garcia's Wolf guitar — Garcia's Wolf guitar

The guitar played by Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia at iconic venues including the Egyptian pyramids has sold at auction for $1.9m (£1.47m).

The instrument, which Garcia called Wolf after its decoration, was first seen in his hands in 1973, and also appeared in the 1977 Grateful Dead movie.

It was auctioned in New York this week at a charity event for the Southern Property Law Center, which seeks to offer legal support for those dealing with bigotry issues in Alabama.

Wolf was offered for sale by then-owner Daniel Pritzker, who’d bought it in 2002 for $790,000 (£614,000). The movie-maker and philanthropist told Jam: “I’ve been a fan of the Dead since I was a kid. Playing this iconic guitar over the past 15 years has been a privilege. But the time is right for Wolf to do some good.”

Law Center president Richard Cohen thanked Pritzker for being “willing to part with this piece of musical history.”

In 2015 a gun owned by Garcia went to auction, along with a range of band memorabilia including original lyric sheets, artwork and furniture. A collection of his earliest recordings was also released that year, while a 50th anniversary Grateful Dead collection arrived in February 2017.

Jerry Garcia's last days recalled by Robert Hunter

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.