It is a fool’s errand to offer any sort of grand unified theory that measures the quality of a collection.
Whether speaking of the thrift-store scavenger or the the wealthy, monocle-wearing bidder, there is nothing that can possibly provide an objective rationale for the non-monetary motivation for collecting. Rarity, sentimental value and cultural merit are all measuring sticks, but none of those aspects carry the same weight to multiple observers.
Still, by every metric under the sun, not the least of which being pure financial excess, Jim Irsay accumulated one of, if not the, greatest cultural collections in history during his life. And the upcoming sale of his collection at Christie’s in March is poised to be one of the most significant in history — right up there with the estate sales of Paul Allen and Malcolm Forbes.
Before we get into some of the highlights of the collection and the stories behind them, it’s important to note just how crucial the role of provenance plays in an auction like this. While the term often refers simply to chain of custody, often for authenticity purposes, in special cases, it becomes a value driver itself. This is certainly true with respect to the Irsay Collection, as one can expect all of the items sold this year to prominently feature “former Irsay Collection” in the lot description each time a piece is re-sold.
Irsay’s collection is simply so rarified, vast and dotted with premier pieces, that his taste alone brings added value.
Irsay often paid multiple times pre-sale estimates for pieces he felt compelled to buy. Many of Christie’s estimates fall below or barely near his cost, reflecting what could be the impact of a mass injection of high-end material into a limited buyer pool.
Now, let's look at some of the most jaw-dropping pieces coming to Christie’s in a series of sales this March including nearly 400 lots, beginning with items relating to sports, culture and music (historical pieces will come later this year).
Irsay’s collection is perhaps best known as the home to “The Greatest Guitar Collection on Earth.”
Among the guitars on offer are some of the most valuable and important in the collecting world. Not to be overshadowed, of course, are pieces touching on sports and cultural history.
Kurt Cobain's 1966 Fender Mustang guitar (estimate: $2.5 million-$5 million)
Used during the recording of "Nevermind" and "In Utero," Cobain also played the guitar during the famous music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Irsay purchased the guitar for $4,687,500 in 2022. Cobain guitars rule the list of the most expensive ever sold, with this one coming in second place all time.
David Gilmour's "Black Strat” (estimate: $2 million-$4 million)
The Pink Floyd guitarist played the Strat on every Floyd album from 1970 to 1983, including "The Dark Side Of The Moon" (1973), "Wish You Were Here" (1975), "Animals" (1977) and "The Wall" (1979).
Irsay purchased it for $3,975,000 in 2019. The guitar led the auction of the David Gilmour Guitar Collection, which netted a record-breaking $21,490,750 in total.
Ringo Starr's first Ludwig drum kit (estimate: $1 million-$2 million)
The first Ludwig kit ever owned by the Beatles drummer, Starr played it in more than 200 live performances and more than 180 studio recordings from May 1963 to February 1964. Irsay bought the kit in 2015 for $2.11 million.
Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for "Hey Jude" (estimate: $600,000-$1 million)
While most handwritten lyrics by iconic artists of their most famous songs are nothing more than a cash grab — “Hey, you, sit down and rewrite the lyrics to your top hit on hotel stationary 40 years after you recorded the song” — this is a rare contemporary example. It is said to have been written for a 1968 recording session in London in McCartney’s hand. Irsay purchased it for $910,000 in 2020.
Jack Kerouac's original typescript scroll of "On The Road," (estimate: $2.5 million-$4 million)
Whether or not you consider yourself a “Beat Generation” buff or have even read “On The Road,” Kerouac’s influence is impossible to ignore and the striking visual of this scroll — typed during a near-three week amphetamine fueled bender in 1951 — makes it all the more enticing. The continuous scroll measures nearly 120-feet long and sold in 2001 for $2,426,000.
Muhammad Ali's “Rumble in the Jungle” heavyweight championship belt (estimate: $2.5 million-$4 million)
Ali was awarded two belts for his triumph over George Foreman in Zaire in 1974, including this one which originated from cornerman Drew “Bundini” Brown’s storage locker auction in 1988. Irsay paid $6.18 million for the belt in 2022.
Secretariat's saddle from 1973 Triple Crown win (estimate: $1.5 million-$2 million)
With this saddle on his back, Secretariat flew to the first Triple Crown since 1948. The piece was sold to Irsay by jockey Ron Turcotte for $2 million in 2023.
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Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.