NEW YORK, NY.- What do iconic items from the legendary Woodstock Festival, Van Halen, Clapton, Bo Diddley and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s guitars, Paul Butterfield and James Cotton’s Blues harmonicas, Chick Corea and Elton John's pianos, Miles Davis’ test pressings, Billie Holliday’s Gown, John Lennon's artwork, the front doors of the Chelsea Hotel, over 500 vintage violins, banjos, ukuleles and mandolins, and about a zillion other very cool things have in common? They all will be sold in Guernsey’s mostly unreserved, joyful “A Century of Music Auction” upcoming July 14 & 15. Items can be viewed at Guernseys.com, liveauctioneers.com and invaluable.com.

In 1952, a 12 year old boy from rural Tennessee spotted a stunning Gibson Les Paul Goldtop guitar in the window of a local shop. Determined to own it, he cut lawns, cleaned attics and did anything necessary to get the $5 a month needed to make the payments. After moving north, that young man grew to become the first African American surgeon to practice in New Jersey hospitals. 20,000 surgeries later and now in his 80s, the doctor is finally parting with his beloved Goldtop.

Briefly considered one of the world’s great rock guitar phenoms, Jason Becker contracted a debilitating disease and is now fighting to survive. The sale of the only instruments he ever played will fund his battle.

Without question, the greatest rock concert of them all was Woodstock. The 1969 hand painted directional map, sections of the stage, the original photography, many tickets and more are part of this sale. Where were legendary performers Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Garcia living at the time of Woodstock? At NYC’s Chelsea Hotel. Flash... we have the Chelsea’s front doors! And when the 1994 25th Anniversary Woodstock Concert was held, great artists (like Robert Indiana) were asked to create painted panels to restrain the 500,000 attendees. You guessed it... many of those exciting panels are being sold in this event.

And what did an accomplished attorney do when the results of his life-long search for rare stringed instruments outgrew his Princeton home? He came to Guernsey’s. From the remarkable Meisel Collection come a stunning 170 banjos, 80 guitars 150 violins and bows, and about 150 mandolins, ukuleles and auto harps. Phew!

Above are just a few of the compelling stories and examples of the many treasured objects being featured in this unprecedented Auction. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Classical music, this event has it all!