Eric Clapton and George Harrison Handwritten Lyrics, Letters, and Doodles at Pattie Boyd Auction

The Pattie Boyd Collection's 116 lots will be offered by Christie’s online March 8 - 22, providing a window into the private world of the model, muse, photographer and icon who, as the former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton, inspired some of the greatest love songs of all time. 

The sale is led by the original artwork chosen by Eric Clapton for the cover of Derek and The Dominos 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (estimate: £40,000-60,000) and original handwritten lyrics for George Harrison’s Mystical One (estimate: £30,000-50,000), alongside love letters, drawings, photographs, fashion, jewellery and watches. Estimates range from £300 to £60,000. The full sale will be on public view at Christie’s headquarters in London March 15 - 21.

“Pattie Boyd’s extraordinary life and career chart some of the key moments of the cultural revolution that changed the world in the 1960s," said Adrian Hume-Sayer, Director, Private & Iconic Collections and Head of Sale, Christie’s London. "This unique collection includes an array of cherished personal letters, photographs and mementoes which provide a tangible link to that amazing time. Pattie’s passion for photography also provides a glimpse from behind the lens adding further colour to the intimate portrait of her life in the spotlight alongside two of history’s most iconic musicians."

A successful fashion model, Pattie Boyd met Harrison on the set of the 1964 Beatles' film A Hard Day’s Night. Their relationship put Boyd at the centre of Beatlemania and inspired him to write the Beatles’ ballad Something. In 1970, Harrison’s close friend Eric Clapton declared his love for Boyd in the song Layla, Clapton’s secret nickname for Boyd. He borrowed the name from a 12th century Persian tale of a man driven to madness by unattainable love. Boyd also later inspired Clapton to pen Wonderful Tonight after she left Harrison to be with him in 1974.

The sale features intimate insights into one of music history’s most famous love triangles, including: 

• two significant handwritten love letters from Eric Clapton in 1970 (each with an estimate of £10,000-£15,000), one urgently mailed to the Harrison home around the same time that he wrote Layla
• a 1971 letter from George Harrison (estimate: £10,000-£15,000)
• a telegram from Eric (estimate: £1,000-£1,500) 
• the original artwork used for the cover of the 1970 Derek and The Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, originally acquired by Clapton from the son of artist Frandsen De Schomberg during a 1970 stay at the artist’s home in France, when the guitarist was struck by the resemblance to the similarly blonde-haired Boyd (estimate: £40,000-£60,000)

Among the key music lots are:

• a rare set of handwritten lyrics in Eric Clapton's hand for an unreleased song Sweet Eloraine (estimate £4,000-£6,000)
• an original design doodle for an Apple Records LP label by George Harrison (estimate: £3,000-£5,000)
• a rare set of complete handwritten lyrics in George Harrison's hand for the song Mystical One (estimate: £30,000-£50,000);
• an Eric Clapton handwritten set list (estimate: £1,000-£1,500)

As both subject and photographer, portraits of Boyd and her circle are also featured including a set of original vintage photographs taken by Boyd during the Beatles’ historic stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India, in 1968 (estimate: £3,000-£5,000), Pattie and George at their Surrey home Kinfauns The Rose Garden taken by Boyd (estimate: £4,000-£6,000), and an album of original vintage photographs from George and Pattie’s Barbados honeymoon (estimate: £2,000-£3,000).

Pattie Boyd commented: “I’m happy to let go of these things which I have treasured and loved for so many years. These items represent special moments in my life but now I think it’s time to move on and share what I have with others.”