Generous donation of famous guitars from mysterious donor to Oxfam shop sells for over £12k at auction

A generous donation of six famous guitars in mint condition from a mysterious donor to an Oxfam shop, has sold for over £12,000 at auction.

The selection of valuable guitars and an amp were donated at the Oxfam Witney shop, just outside Oxford, at the end last year by an anonymous donor.

The most notable of the donations included a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar - which was favoured by the likes of artists such as Neil Young, David Gilmour and Bob Dylan - and a Gibson Custom Shop Banner 1942 J-45 acoustic guitar, favoured by artists such as ‘The King’ Elvis Presley.

After being assessed by the Witney shop volunteers, the guitars were quickly identified as being potentially very valuable and placed for auction with Ewbanks, with the sale made this week, raising an incredible £12,660 for Oxfam’s work in partner with communities around the world tackling poverty and inequality.

Chris Meadows, one of the volunteers who took in the donation, said: “Near the end of last year, a chap came in and asked if we took in guitars as donations. We said yes and next thing we knew, he had come back in with a few guitar cases and an amp. I don’t know anything about guitars, but I remember seeing the cases and thinking they looked valuable – not knowing quite how valuable they were.

“I started researching them with my colleague and we pretty quickly realised how special these guitars were. The very generous gentleman who donated them must have known they were very valuable, and knew what kind of money they might be able to help make for Oxfam.”

A full list of the guitars sold at the auction, includes: 

1. Martin D-28 1937 Aged acoustic guitar, made in 2019. No strings. In Martin hard case and comes with foldable Cooper Stand - £3,400
2. Gibson ES 335 electric guitar (Murphy Lab with beautiful checking) proper Custom shop. In hard case - £2,800
3. Gibson Custom Shop Banner 1942 J-45 acoustic guitar, made on 31 May 2020 in Kalamazoo. In hard case - £2,200
4. Gretsch White Falcon G6136-55VS electric guitar. Made in 2022. In hard case - £1,400
5. Rickenbacker 1993 (Pete Townsend reprise) 12 string electric guitar, Made in 2020. In hard case - £1,300 
6. Guild F-512 MPL12 String Acoustic guitar. In hard case - £1,200
7. Fender Champ 57 Amplifier - £360

John Silke, Ewbank’s Music Valuer, said: “We are thrilled at Ewbank's to have been able to offer these stunning guitars. Each one of these six guitars from the Gibson ES 335 to the Martin D-28 would be high on any guitar players dream list. Instruments of this quality and condition don't come in every day so this was a very special and generous donation. It is fantastic that they have been able to raise so much money for Oxfam."

Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce, Oxfam’s Head of Retail Operations, said: “We are so grateful for every donation we get at Oxfam, but donations like these are always extra special. It’s not just because of the story behind them, but the difference they make. This enormously generous donation has helped raise a huge amount of money to help Oxfam tackle poverty and inequality across the globe, at a time when it is needed most.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• You can find your local Oxfam shop here.
• PICTURES HERE