George Michael’s guitar from the “Faith” music video is expected to fetch more than £100,000 when it goes under the hammer this autumn.
The original 1940s Gretsch Synchromatic 160 instrument, seen in the 1987 release, will be the highlight of the auction Faith & Fame: A Personal George Michael Collection, on Thursday 29 October.
In the video, Michael can be seen wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans while playing the guitar next to a jukebox.
“Faith”, from Michael’s debut solo album of the same title, spent four weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, whilst reaching number two in the UK.
The collection featuring the guitar was assembled by Michael’s former personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey, and amassed during her 20 years working with him.
Bailey died in 2014 and her personal archive is being offered for auction by her widower.
Other items include ring-bound tour itineraries from Michael’s solo career and his time in the band Wham!
There is also memorabilia from some of his most celebrated live performances, including a four-page running order from Live Aid in 1985 which features his duet with Elton John, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”.
For fans of his recordings, there are numerous presentation discs and gold records celebrating milestone sales, including a gold disc for 500,000 UK sales of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (estimate £200-£500).
There is also an award for more than a million UK sales of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (estimate £200-£500) and more than 1.8 million UK sales of Older (estimate £200-£500).
There are rare cassettes and acetate singles, some marked Not For Sale, and a number of signed photographs, all personally inscribed to Bailey, which offer a glimpse into Michael’s professional and personal life.
The archive as a whole is expected to achieve more than £200,000.
Guy Schooling, chairman of Sworders auctioneers, said: “George Michael’s work continues to resonate as powerfully today as it did during his heyday.
“The Faith guitar is the jewel in the crown, together with the other items from Siobhan Bailey’s collection, it tells a story of creativity, ambition and artistry on a global scale.
“The sale will offer avid fans around the globe the chance to own not just pieces of music history, but objects that capture the spirit and ambition of one of pop’s greatest and most-loved artists.”
Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, had 13 number one singles in the UK.
He came out as gay in 1998 and became an activist for LGBT rights and an HIV/Aids charity fundraiser.
Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53.
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