A mega-auction is selling 400 items from the Beatles, Dylan, Queen, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones...

RR Auctions closes its spring auction , " Marvels of Modern Music," this Thursday, June 19th. It offers more than 400 key pieces from popular music history, from important autographs to stage-played instruments and personal awards. The auction brings together a cast of icons such as Paul McCartney , Bob Dylan, Prince, and Eric Clapton, alongside other legendary names such as The Beatles, Queen, Janis Joplin, The Who, and the Rolling Stones.

Among the auction's highlights is a moving tribute from Paul McCartney to John Lennon , a deeply personal and poetic letter written in his own hand in 2005, on his personalized "Paul McCartney US" letterhead, which offers a rare and heartfelt reflection on his former Beatles bandmate. Signed "Love, Paul," the letter was published in Q magazine and discovered in the Bauer Media archives after the outlet's closure. "He was, and remains, the heroic figure whose wit and wisdom, with a little help from his friends, shaped the thoughts and lives of millions," McCartney writes.

Also up for auction is a copy of the 1964 album 'A Hard Day's Night' signed by the Beatles shortly after its release, bearing the inscription: 'To the Johnson Sisters with love, from the Beatles.' Authenticated by Beatles expert Frank Caiazzo and dated summer 1964, this rare, fully signed copy comes with provenance from a journalist who obtained autographs during the festivities surrounding the film's London premiere, an event that brought together the British Royal Family, the Rolling Stones and thousands of fans who packed Piccadilly Circus.

Another gem is Prince 's original tape of the song "U" featuring his own vocals. It's a 1988-1990 cassette featuring the aforementioned track, which runs approximately 4 minutes and 33 seconds, and features a label on the B-side marked in black pen, "U," Master," and features Prince's vocals, a version that was never officially released. Originally written as "You" for his 1979 project with The Rebels, Warner Bros. shelved the track and later reimagined it on Paisley Park in the late 1980s.

The song almost reappeared in early drafts of 'Graffiti Bridge,' intended for Prince's character Camille. He eventually sent the dance-pop version to Paula Abdul , who provided vocals for it in Los Angeles in 1990, and it appeared as the sixth track on her hit 1991 album, 'Spellbound.' The tape has come from the collection of Marylou Badeaux, a former Warner Bros. Records executive who received the tape directly from Prince. "This copy, featuring Prince's voice, represents a pivotal creative moment and a subtle act of rebellion in Prince's relationship with his record label," RR Auctions said.

Up for auction is a 1928 Eric Clapton Gibson L-3 guitar from the artist's personal collection. Featuring a rich sunburst finish and remarkable provenance—including a handwritten label by Clapton's longtime guitar technician, Lee Dickson—the instrument showcases Clapton's reverence for vintage blues craftsmanship and his deep ties to the genre's Mississippi roots. It was originally sold by Christie's in 1999 to benefit Clapton's Crossroads Centre.

RR Auctions will also be selling a Syd Barrett handwritten lyric for Pink Floyd 's 1967 single 'Apples and Oranges'. From manager Peter Jenner's collection, the pages reflect Barrett's quirky, psychedelic vision at the height of his brief but brilliant career with the band.

Another highly prized lot is a set of signed Doors photos, taken backstage one night by a teenage fan in Toronto in 1968. The 14-year-old fan won a local radio contest and was able to meet the band at the CNE Coliseum, where he took 12 photographs, which are accompanied by a complete set of signatures from Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore.

The Rolling Thunder guitar that Bob Neuwirth received as a gift from Bob Dylan is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the auction. It's a 1975 Martin D-41 acoustic guitar with a rare sunburst finish, purchased by Bob Dylan and given to his close friend and collaborator. Neuwirth used the guitar extensively during the historic Rolling Thunder Revue, as can be seen in concert footage, photographs, and in Martin Scorsese's documentary "Rolling Thunder Revue."

The auction is completed with the most prominent names in the Olympus of rock and soul, such as Queen, The Who, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones. Collectors will also find signed photographs, concert posters, handwritten notes, personal effects, and awards that trace the evolution of modern music from the 1950s to the 1990s.