UPDATE: This lot is accompanied by full letters of authenticity from REAL, PSA, and Beckett.
Rare CD booklet for a European copy of Nirvana’s third and final studio album, In Utero, signed and inscribed in black felt tip, “Illya, Hell-o I’m Kurdt today!,” “Krist,” and “David.” The booklet is also signed by touring musicians Pat Smear and cellist Melora Creager. In very good to fine condition, with light creasing and general handling wear. The consignor notes that the signatures were obtained backstage in Toulon, France, on February 12, 1994, during the band’s European Tour—this was just weeks prior to Cobain’s untimely death on April 5, 1994. The CD is not included.
Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from Tracks, REAL, PSA/DNA, and Beckett Authentication Services, a detailed letter of provenance (in French) by the original recipient, and seven modern photographic prints showing Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl, and Smear at the time of the signing. On livenirvana.com, Melora Creager vividly recalled the backstage encounter in Toulon: ‘All I remember were these really skeevy people backstage specifically to see Kurt, it was a couple, they were in like designer jeans and thongs on their feet and they had their little boy with them [Illya], who just idolized Kurt. Kurt responded to the boy really well, because he was a kid. But it was just so sad. The reason the parents were there was pretty obvious.’
Official studio recordings signed by all five touring Nirvana musicians are extremely rare, with copies of In Utero all the more elusive and coveted given the proximity between its release date and Cobain´s death. A stellar example augmented by both written and photographic documentation from the time of the signing.
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
