Personal memorabilia from the former home of country music legend Willie Nelson is heading for sale online.
The sale at Backstage Auctions will include handwritten lyrics, personal letters, photographs, tour posters, backstage passes and concert T-shirts,
The collection originates from Nelson’s former 44 acre estate in Evergreen, Colorado, where he lived with his family throughout the 1980s.
Following his divorce in 1988, and a well-documented battle with the IRS, most of Nelson’s assets were seized in 1990 to cover a multi-million dollar tax bill.
In 1991 his Evergreen estate was sold off by a real estate investor, and the contents were placed in storage, where they remained untouched for the next 26 years.
However, when the storage container was opened again earlier this year, closer inspection revealed several trunks packed with personal memorabilia from Nelson’s remarkable 60-year career.
Standout highlights from the collection include handwritten song lyrics by Nelson and Johnny Cash; letters to Nelson from friends such as Cash, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and President Jimmy Carter; vintage posters and itineraries from his US tours; and equipment from his home music studio.
The auction will also offer Nelson’s personal furniture and decorative objects, such as antique sideboards, light fixtures and chandeliers, stained glass windows, his bathtub, a vintage lamp made from deer horns and even a gold-plated bidet.
"Willie Nelson is a legend and a true American icon," said the auction house. "He is as much loved for his amazing catalog of timeless music, as he is respected for activism and attitude towards life.
"This auction offers a unique opportunity to own an authentic memento of Willie Nelson and his Evergreen home."
Bidding in the online sale opens on Saturday August 19, and runs until Sunday August 27.
