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aesthetic and ornamental value). More importantly, a mother of pearl inlay is
rare and drastically reduces the list of possibilities by eliminating those banjos
that don’t possess it. That said, it would still leave numerous contenders to choose
from and that’s where the search would inevitably grind to a halt. Or would it?

Alright, so John Lennon’s signature might not be emblazoned across it but with
today’s forensic technology it would certainly be possible to confirm provenance if
John or Julia had left behind, say, a fingerprint or perhaps a strand of hair. Although
this idea may seem a little far-fetched, it is not as outlandish as it sounds. Lennon’s
Gallotone Champion acoustic guitar was authenticated, prior to its sale at Sotheby’s
in 1999, by a drop of his blood! Original Quarrymen member, Rod Davis, recounts:
“John took the skin off the edge of his index finger while playing at St Peter’s Par-
ish Féte in Woolton (1957). I remember seeing the bloodstain inside Lennon’s gui-
tar while I was changing one of the strings. When Sotheby’s contacted me about
authentication I told them about it and, although faint, the bloodstain was still there.”

The mystery surrounding Lennon’s missing banjo is still relatively unknown but as
the news filters out no doubt hundreds will crawl out of the woodwork claiming to
possess it. Could it still be out there having been stashed away for safe keeping and
then forgotten about? Of course it could; that’s what happens with memorabilia;
hey, we’ve all watched the Antiques Roadshow!

So, with that in mind, let’s raise a glass to Julia, John and the banjo that made it all
possible. Without them, the world would have been a much quieter place.

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