Though individual handwritten letters by Bob Dylan have sold for $20,000-30,000, the trustees of Hewitt's estate wish to keep the Archive together; the letters will accordingly be sold as one lot, with a starting bid of $250,000.
Among other items originating from the Hewitt estate are early drawings and several photo-booth images—one of the earliest signed Dylan photos known to exist.
"The archive is a never-before-seen window into Bob Dylan's formative years," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR auction.
Another highlight comes in several original drawings by fellow shapers of '60s pop culture, Edie Sedgwick, the Warhol superstar who befriended Dylan at the Chelsea Hotel. The paintings, illustrations, and self-portraits, preserved by Edie's husband, were produced from 1960 through 1970, with several of the works from 1965, Edie's time as Andy Warhol's muse at the factory.
Other items include Billy Joel's concert-used piano, apparel from Prince's stage-worn wardrobe, rare and exemplary autographs of The Doors, and signatures of the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and more.
The Marvels of Modern Music from RR Auction will conclude on Thursday, November 17. For more information, go to www.rrauction.com.