The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Bob Dylan’s working pages for “Mr. Tambourine Man” reportedly sold for $508,000 (£417,000) at auction in January 2025. The lot was not a single finished lyric: reports describe two yellow typewritten sheets containing three successive drafts, with revisions and annotations.
What sold, and for how much?
The reported sale price was $508,000 (£417,000), against an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000, according to The Guardian’s January 18, 2025 report. JustCollecting also reported a $508,000 result.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Essential Bob Dylan | $13.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Greatest Hits Volumes 1, 2 & 3 | $24.73 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits [Remaster]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ePs86ywOL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits [Remaster] | $8.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Essential Bob Dylan [2CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZBRWzpcUL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Essential Bob Dylan [2CD] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume II | $15.98 | Buy on Amazon |
The reports do not establish whether that amount includes a buyer’s premium. Julien’s Auctions’ primary lot record and final-result documentation were not available in the cited coverage, so the figure is best treated as the reported result rather than a verified accounting of the buyer’s total cost.
What was on the pages?
The Guardian describes two yellow sheets with three progressive lyric drafts and annotations on the third. JustCollecting describes four sides of yellow paper bearing typed deletions and Dylan’s handwritten changes. Both accounts portray a working document that records the song’s revision, rather than a clean final lyric or a recording.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
The reporting does not independently establish the artifact’s physical condition or provide an authentication examination. The precise physical details above are descriptions in the sale coverage, not the findings of an independent inspection.
How were the drafts reportedly found?
The reported provenance story links the pages to music journalist Al Aronowitz’s personal collection. The Guardian recounts that Dylan spent a night in March 1964 writing and rewriting the song on a typewriter at Aronowitz’s New Jersey home, discarded early drafts, and that Aronowitz recovered the crumpled pages from his bin. JustCollecting says Aronowitz’s family arranged the sale.
Rank #2
This is the provenance narrative reported with the auction coverage; the accounts do not supply a complete, independently documented chain of custody.
What else was in the auction?
The Guardian reported that the dedicated Dylan auction comprised 60 items, 50 of them from Aronowitz’s personal collection, and that the collection brought in nearly $1.5 million, according to Julien’s Auctions. A Dylan-owned and played 1983 Fender Telecaster reportedly sold for $222,250. That instrument is context for the event, not a like-for-like comparison with lyric manuscripts.
Rank #3
A single result cannot establish a market trend or the general value of Dylan manuscripts. The coverage provides no comparable manuscript sales or formal valuation analysis. This particular lot’s reported price should not be treated as a reliable estimate for another manuscript, reproduction, or recording.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the draft available to buy now?
No. The auction was completed in January 2025, and the pages were sold as a unique collectible. The reported sale does not mean the original sheets remain available for purchase.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Shrink-wrapped
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
