Prince's "Blue Angel" Cloud 2 guitar, used at the height of the revered rock star's career throughout the 1980s and 90s, has fetched 563,500 dollars (about GBP 456,000) at auction.
Prince’s rare ‘Blue Angel’ guitar fetches huge price at auction
The custom-made instrument – which auctioneers originally mistook for a far less rare guitar before its true value became known – had accompanied Prince for some of his best-known tours and performances.
It was sold in Beverly Hills on Friday as part of Julien's Auctions Music Icons event. Auctioneers told the PA news agency the buyer wished to remain anonymous.
Other highlights included an ivory macrame belt worn on stage by the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley – that fetched a staggering 298,000 dollars (about GBP 241,000), nearly thirty times its original estimate of 10,000 dollars.
The belt was bought by a Presley collector. Some of the late rocker's cars also went under the hammer, including his 1977 Lincoln Mark V coupe and 1966 Chevrolet Impala, which both fetched 62,500 dollars (about GBP 50,000) and a 1977 Chevrolet 30 Series Silverado, which sold for 41,600 dollars (about GBP 33,600).
Another eye-catching sale was an ivory satin halter gown worn by Madonna in her 1990 Vogue music video. An anonymous buyer paid 179,200 dollars, about GBP 145,000.
That was almost nine times its original estimate of 20,000 dollars.
An acoustic guitar belonging to country music star Johnny Cash and signed by Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, members of the country supergroup The Highwaymen, sold for 57,600 dollars (about GBP 46,600).
When Julien's Auctions originally announced the sale of Prince's guitar, it was unaware of how rare the item was.
It was only when contacted by John Woodland, who performs conservation work on Prince's guitars, that it became clear what it was.
CT scans and extensive research verified the guitar was in fact The Purple One's beloved Cloud 2, which many had considered long lost.
Julien's Auctions told Rolling Stone it had been in a private collection since the 1990s and the owner was not aware of its exact history.
It was gifted to the now former owner by Prince. The instrument is considered hugely important by fans of the singer, who died in 2016 at the age of 57.
He played it during his 1980s tours for Purple Rain, The Parade Tour, Sign O' The Times and Lovesexy, among other famous appearances.
Day two of Julien's Auctions Music Icons event will feature another piece of rock and roll history.
The guitar used by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain during the band's famous MTV Unplugged in New York concert is going under the hammer, with a starting estimate of one million dollars (GBP 810,000).