Imagine all the artwork: Lennon trove auctioned

The whimsical drawings and manuscripts John Lennon produced for his two critically acclaimed books are skyrocketing past their pre-sale auction estimates.

Sotheby’s is selling the 89-lot collection from Lennon’s In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works.

The Fat Budgie, a beloved nonsensical poem with the title written on the margin, went for $143,000 (Dh525,232) on Wednesday. It was estimated to bring up to $35,000.

A handwritten manuscript called I Sat Belonely went for $137,000. It was expected to fetch up to $35,000.

A corrected typescript titled Neville Club sold for $10,000, within its presale estimate.

Sotheby’s says it’s the largest private collection of Lennon’s work to come to market. The books’ British publisher, Tom Maschler, has owned the material for a half-century.