Chillin’ With Dylan: Julien’s Bob Dylan Sale Brings Stellar Results

Bob Dylan (b. Robert Allen Zimmerman, 1941-) has sold more than 125 million records over his six-decade career. Considered by many as one of the most important and talented songwriters ever, his many awards include ten Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and the Nobel Prize in Literature. On January 18, 2025, Julien’s presented the Celebrating Bob Dylan The Aronowitz Archive & More sale in Nashville, TN. This 60-lot event included materials from rock and roll journalist Al Aronowitz (1928 – 2005), who was a personal and professional acquaintance of the songwriter. Prices noted include the auction house’s buyer’s premium and fees.

The top lot in this Bob Dylan sale was #19, three progressive drafts of Mr. Tambourine Man working lyrics. They were estimated at USD 400,000 to $600,000 and sold for $508,000. This grouping included two sheets of yellow paper and three pages of typescript lyrics, representing three progressive drafts of one of Dylan’s signature songs. The third draft of the song included annotations in Bob Dylan’s hand. The pages reflected significant edits version over version. The third version was the closest version of the song that we are all familiar with– but still had noticeable differences from the final released version.

Dylan penned Mr. Tambourine Man in 1964 and recorded and released it in 1965. He wrote the song after attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some of the background music and themed lyrics of the song reflect the upbeat and fanciful nature of this annual festival. This song was recorded by several premier artists over time, including the Byrds, Judy Collins, Stevie Wonder, and Odetta; Dylan’s version is included on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 best songs ever and has received a Grammy Hall of Fame award.

Paintings and sketches by Dylan were a key category in this rockstar sale. Two generated breathtaking results.

The first, lot #27, was an original 1968 oil on canvas painting. Estimated at $200,000 to $300,000, it traded hands at $260,000. This untitled, unframed 30 by 24-inch oil on canvas painting, inspired by Marc Chagall, was signed and dated by the artist in pen on its lower left. This figural and abstract work was produced by Dylan at the beginning of his interest in painting as a hobby; his wife Sara gave him a painting kit for his 27th birthday in May of 1968.

The second, lot #28, was an original pencil sketch of a hand on a Plaza Hotel memo pad. Estimated at $1,500 to $2,500, it realized a whopping $88,900. This early to mid-1960s pencil on paper work illustrated a hand drawing something on a memo page from a Plaza memo pad.  Interesting details of the image include the fact that the hand had a Band-Aid near the wrist and was captioned, “I AM / An Artist / (Bob).”

In addition to being a songwriter and performer, Dylan is also a prolific visual artist– and has been since the 1960s. His mediums have included oil on canvas, watercolors, gouaches, large-scale acrylic paintings, pastel portraits, and even metalwork and statues. Most recently, a collection of 250 of his various works has toured the world as part of his aptly named Retrospectrum exhibit. And, over the past three decades, nine tomes featuring the performer’s drawings and paintings have been published.

Bidders and collectors at this Bob Dylan sale were also interested in the artist’s personal effects. Lot #55, a screen-worn denim jacket from the 1987 feature film Hearts of Fire, was estimated at $20,000 to $30,000 and sold for $25,400. This XL jacket, made by Levi’s, was decorated with velvet, lace, fringe, embroidery, and other fabric patches. It was featured in the 1987 Lorimar film at a key moment in the plot where Dylan’s character punches Rupert Everett’s character.

This rock and roll drama from 1987 was created to show off the star power and talent of Dylan as a singer and performer. He contributed two original tracks and one cover tune to the soundtrack, which was produced by Columbia Records.  

Photographs of Dylan throughout his career featured prominently in this event. Lot #39, a large Nat Finkelstein (1933 – 2009) signed photograph of one of Dylan’s visits to Andy Warhol’s Factory, was estimated at $800 to $1,200 and delivered $12,700. This 11 by 14-inch black-and-white silver gelatin photograph was signed on its lower right corner in blue ballpoint by Finkelstein, who was the Warhol Factory photographer in the late 1960s.

Andy Warhol’s (1928 – 1987) Factory was the visual artist, film director, and producer’s creative studio located in Manhattan. The Factory was also known as The Silver Factory. There, Warhol and his minions would design and produce his now legacy silkscreened and lithographed images. The Factory was located in four different locations from 1963 through 1987. These included 231 East 47th Street from 1963 – 67; 33 Union Square West from 1968 – 73; 860 Broadway from 1973 – 84; and 158 Madison Ave (22 East 33rd Street) from 1984 – 87. The Factory was the premier place to party and be seen. It was frequented by the celebrities, rock stars, and artists of its era. It closed after Warhol’s death in 1987.

Musical instruments, posters and broadsides, correspondence, and other ephemera with ties to Dylan brought this sale full circle. Lot #52, a 1983 butterscotch blonde Fender Telecaster electric guitar owned and played by Dylan, was estimated at $80,000 to $120,000 and delivered $222,250. This instrument was made as a special order for Dylan, who favored this design in the 1970 to 1990 timeframe. Its letter of provenance indicated that it was gifted to fellow musician Cesar Diaz (1951 – 2002).

For more information on the Celebrating Bob Dylan The Aronowitz Archive & More sale, visit Julien’s.