Over the decades, Guernsey's has held a series of auctions involving items closely associated with significant cultural figures and moments. In 2011 the company auctioned Elvis Presley's first guitar and Michael Jackson's moonwalking self-portrait.[6][7] In 2017, it auctioned Jerry Garcia's guitar called "Wolf" for the second time, having auctioned it to the seller in an earlier auction in 2002.[8]
The company has also auctioned Keith Haring's refrigerator in 2021[9], and personal artifacts from various influential figures including Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Patti Astor, and Bob Dylan in 2024.[10] The 2024 auction also featured original fixtures from the Chelsea Hotel, including its iconic neon sign.[11]
In 2024, Guernsey's scheduled an auction of approximately 70 personal effects of Nelson Mandela, including his identity document, hearing aids, and trademark Madiba shirts. The auction was co-organized with Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, who stated that proceeds would fund a memorial garden in Qunu. However, the sale became the subject of a high-profile legal and ethical dispute, as South African heritage authorities and segments of the public objected to the export and sale of items they considered national patrimony. Although a South African court ruled in favor of allowing the sale, ongoing appeals and public controversy led Guernsey’s to suspend the auction.[12][13][14][15]
