By Susan Sliwicki

If you’ve got $15,000 kicking around, you’ve got enough to place the opening bid on still-sealed, first-state Beatles Butcher Cover on the block at Heritage Auction Galleries this week.

A still-sealed, first-state Beatles butcher cover is expected to bring $30,000 or more at auction.

The firm’s 2011 February Beverly Hill Signature Music & Entertainment Auction closes in two phases, according to lot number. Session 1 closes at 3 p.m. central Friday, Feb. 18; Session 2 closes at noon Saturday, Feb. 19.

“This isn’t just a nice copy, as rare as that would be — it’s still factory-sealed and easily the finest copy we’ve ever seen,” the lot’s description reads. Heritage offered the now-famous “Livingston Copy” in 2006 that sold for more than $38,000. This copy, which includes three “recall letters” documenting the history of the cover, is expected to bring $30,000 or more.

The copy of “Yesterday and Today” comes with a letter from Beatles expert Perry Cox, who also declares that it’s the finest copy he’s ever seen.

Heritage is offering a handful of other records and related recording displays, including Beatles framed displays featuring the stamper and single for “Thank You Girl” and “Twist and Shout” (each estimated at $2,500+); Elvis Presley’s framed personal copy of “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (estimated value $2,500+); an experimental picture disc for “Elvis Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden” (estimated value $1,200+); a 14-disc boxed set of Mobile Fidelity’s “The Beatles: The Collection” (estimated value $1,000+).

Leading the instrument offerings is a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard cherry sunburst electric guitar. It was marked as a factory second, probably due to an odd bindlng splice on the treble side of the neck at the first fret, according to the catalog. Complete with its original hardshell case, the guitar has an estimated value of  $100,000+. By mid-day Wednesday, bids had exceeded $75,000.

Other instruments include an unrestored rare 1931 Martin orchestra model acoustic guitar (estimated value $12,000+ but already drawing bids of $16,000); a good condition 1932 Martin shaded acoustic guitar ($4,000+, but bid at $12,500); a 1959 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst electric guitar ($18,000+); and a 1961 Rickenbacker 4001 Fireglo solid-body electric bass guitar ($4,000+, with bidding already at $7,000 by mid-day Feb. 16).

Fans of The King have plenty to choose from, too. An Elvis Presley-commissioned “Ten Outstanding Young Men of America award watch with an autographed program book and photo is being offered. Elvis and nine other men under 35 were honored by the United States Jaycees in 1970; the watches were customized by Memphis jeweler Harry Levitch. Estimated value: $18,000+. Also on the block: Elvis’ owned and worn black star sapphire ring ($15,000+).

On the Fab Four front, a Beatles band-signed promotional photo from “A Hard Day’s Night” is expected to bring $10,000 or more; bidding on that lot as of mid-day Wednesday had already reached $16,000. there are a few dozen lots including movie memorabilia, performance posters, handbills and ticket stubs and a Paul McCartney-signed Hofner bass guitar ($3,000+).

For more information or to check out lots that interest you, visit www.ha.com

A selection of guitars owned, used and/or designed by legendary country guitarist Chet Atkins are heading for the auction block in Dallas.

The guitars are the keynote lots of the 621-lot music portion of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Signature Music & Memorabilia Auction, which will be held Feb. 21-22.

Atkins was a fixture on the American music scene for almost 60 years. The list of musicians with whom he played or produced reads like a Who’s Who of mid-20th Century American music: Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Perry Como, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed, John Hartford and Charley Pride, just to name a few.
Even now, almost eight years after his death, Atkins is just as revered, if not more revered, than he was in his lifetime. 

“For the truly discriminating guitar collector it simply can’t get much better,” said Doug Norwine, director of Music and Entertainment for Heritage. “Just to be able to hold one of Chet’s guitars is an amazing thing, let alone being given the chance to acquire one he himself owned, played or personally designed … that’s a pretty special thing.”

The guitars come from the Russ Cochran Collection. The Atkins’ guitars featured in the auction include:

• A Gretsch Country Gentleman owned and played by Chet Atkins (1971) in very good condition, estimated at $15,000;

• A Gibson Country Gentleman original prototype guitar, owned and played by Chet Atkins (1986) in very good+ condition, estimated at $15,000;

• A Gibson Chet Atkins Super 4000 Limited Edition Guitar (1978) in near mint condition, estimated at $25,000;

• A Gretsch Model 6120 Archtop Guitar owned and modified by Chet Atkins (1958) in very good condition, estimated at $15,000;

• A Gibson Octobass Modified Country Gentleman Guitar owned and played by Chet Atkins (1991) in excellent condition, estimated at $6,000;

• A Martin HD-28 Chet Atkins-owned acoustic guitar (1987) in excellent condition, estimated at $2,000; and

• A D’Angelico Excel Guitar (1950) in very good condition, which is just one serial number away from the very same guitar Atkins used throughout 1950-1954 when he played with The Carter Family, estimated at $30,000.

Other artists’ memorabilia, instruments, records and more featured in the auction include: Buddy Holly; Bruce Springsteen; Bob Dylan; The Beatles; Janis Joplin; The Beach Boys; Frank Zappa; Hank Williams Sr.; Tim Buckley; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; The Who; Led Zeppelin; Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. A selection of Woodstock items also are offered.