A personal, "smutty and funny" letter written by John Lennon to his future first wife, Cynthia Powell, in 1962 is set to be auctioned by Christie's with an estimate of £30,000-£40,000. The letter, penned during The Beatles' Hamburg residency, offers an early insight into Lennon's personality and includes intimate thoughts, complaints about Paul McCartney, and expressions of love.
John Lennon’s ‘smutty and funny’ letter to future first wife to be sold at auction
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A personal, "smutty and funny" letter written by John Lennon to his future first wife, Cynthia Powell, in 1962 is set to be auctioned by Christie's with an estimate of £30,000-£40,000. The letter, penned during The Beatles' Hamburg residency, offers an early insight into Lennon's personality and includes intimate thoughts, complaints about Paul McCartney, and expressions of love.
Trending- 1 1958: John Lennon and Cynthia Powell met at Liverpool College of Art.
- 2 April 1962: John Lennon wrote the letter during The Beatles' Hamburg residency.
- 3 August 1962: John Lennon and Cynthia Powell married.
- 4 April 1963: Their son Julian was born, and Beatlemania exploded with the release of 'Please Please Me'.
- 5 1968: John and Cynthia divorced.
- 6 1980: John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman in New York.
- 7 1991: Cynthia sold the letter to a Swedish collector.
- 8 1993: The letter changed hands to the current Swedish vendor.
- 9 July 9, 2025: The letter is scheduled to be sold at Christie's auction.
- The letter is expected to fetch a high price at auction (£30,000 to £40,000 estimate).
- It offers new insights into Lennon's early life and relationships, particularly his personality before becoming globally famous.
What: A handwritten letter from John Lennon to his future wife, Cynthia Powell, written in 1962, is being sold at auction.
When: The letter was written in April 1962. It will be sold at auction on July 9 (2025). Lennon and Powell married in August 1962, and their son Julian was born in April 1963. They divorced in 1968. The letter was sold by Cynthia in 1991 and changed hands in 1993. The article was published on June 11, 2025.
Where: The letter was written in Hamburg, Germany, during The Beatles' residency. Lennon and Powell met at Liverpool College of Art, United Kingdom. John Lennon was murdered in New York, United States. The auction is by Christie's.
Why: The letter is significant because it provides a rare, early, and unguarded insight into John Lennon's personality and his relationship with Cynthia Powell before Beatlemania fully erupted, offering a glimpse into his private life.
How: The letter, which was previously sold by Cynthia and then to a Swedish collector, is now being offered for sale at a Christie's auction.