Pattie Boyd, the ex-wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, says when she auctioned off some of her personal belongings last March, including love letters from both, she did Eric a favor.
Speaking to The Mail, she says, “I don’t know whether Eric is upset that I sold the letters…
“But if he is, he shouldn’t be. I’m allowing everyone to see what a creative man he is, what a beautiful writer — his handwriting is exquisite — so I am showing another part of him. Not just the guitar player and songwriter, but a romantic.”
The auction, at Christie’s in London, took in $3.6 million, with the painting that graces the cover of the Derek and The Dominos debut and only studio album, 1970’s Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs being the big seller at $2.5 million. That set a record for an original album cover artwork.
Other big sellers included one of those letters, which Clapton wrote in 1971. “I would sacrifice my family, my god, and my own existence, and still you will not move. I am at the end of my mind, I cannot go back and there is nothing in tomorrow (save you) that can attract me beyond today, and questions why do you hesitate, am I a poor lover, am I ugly, am I too weak, too strong, do you know why?… if you don’t want me, please break the spell that binds me…” It sold for $153,000.
Another love letter from Clapton went for just under $137,000.
REUTERS PHOTO
