A remarkable discovery of Bob Dylan's draft lyrics, hidden for decades inside a first edition poetry book by Allen Ginsberg, is set to go under the hammer with an estimated sale price of up to £40,000. The torn page contains typewritten lyrics for Dylan's song 'I'm Not There', featuring numerous handwritten amendments, from his iconic 1967 Basement Tapes sessions.
A Literary and Musical Treasure Trove
The lyrics were found tucked away in Ginsberg's poetry book 'Ankor Wat', which the Beat poet gifted in 1969 to model Sally Grossman. Sally, a close friend of Dylan and wife to his first manager Albert Grossman, famously appeared on the cover of Dylan's 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home'. The book itself includes Ginsberg's signature and a personal inscription to Sally, adding significant provenance to this unique item.
From Basement Tapes to Big Screen
'I'm Not There' remained unreleased for decades until 2007, when it featured on the soundtrack for Todd Haynes' biographical film about Dylan. The draft lyrics provide a fascinating glimpse into Dylan's creative process during a pivotal period in his career, making this discovery particularly valuable to scholars and collectors.
Auction House Anticipation
Omega Auctions will conduct the sale on April 21, with estimates ranging from £20,000 to £40,000. Dan Muscatelli-Hampson of Omega Auctions described the find as "remarkable" and predicted it would "provoke great excitement amongst Dylan scholars, fans and collectors around the world."
He elaborated on the item's journey: "The provenance story is fascinating, not least because the book had passed through several hands before our vendor was eventually the lucky owner who carefully leafed through the book to find this exceptionally rare page hidden inside."
Dylan's Enduring Legacy
Bob Dylan, widely regarded as one of history's most influential songwriters, has accumulated 10 Grammy Awards from 48 nominations. His career began modestly in 1962 with 'Mixed-Up Confusion', but he achieved international stardom by 1965 with hits like 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' and 'Like A Rolling Stone'.
Dylan's commercial success includes six UK top 10 singles and nine UK number one albums. In 2016, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature, cementing his status as a cultural icon. Recently, actor Timothée Chalamet portrayed the young Dylan in the biopic 'A Complete Unknown', demonstrating the musician's ongoing relevance in popular culture.
