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Extraordinary DS, one page, 8.5 x 10.75, Amsterdam Hilton Hotel letterhead, March 30, 1969. Original contract between John Lennon Productions and filmmaker Peter Goessens regarding usage rights for film footage of the ‘Bag Event.’ The document reads: “This is an agreement between John Lennon Productions and Peter Goessens. Concerning the film which Peter Coessens makes on the 29th, 30th and 31st of March and the 1st of April 1969 of the ‘BAG-EVENT’: Peter Goessens has full rights for the Territory of Holland alone. The complete world-rights belong to John Lennon Productions. If John Lennon uses the film or parts of the film he will give credit to Peter Goessens and his crew. Lennon Productions will pay travel- and hotel- expenses of Peter Goessens and his crew to Vienna and London.” Signed prominently at the conclusion in bold black felt tip by John Lennon and countersigned by Goessens. Includes four original glossy promotional photos from this period, likely gifted to Goessens by Lennon, two of which depict Lennon and Yoko Ono, with the reverse marked: “Love + Peace = Bagism.” In fine condition. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from Tracks and noted Beatles expert Frank Caiazzo.
Lennon and Ono were at the Amsterdam Hilton during this period conducting their famous 'Bed-In for Peace' following their marriage in Gibraltar on March 20, 1969. The couple had originally planned to wed in Paris, although as non-residents they did not qualify under French law. Knowing their marriage would be a huge press event, Lennon and Ono decided to use the publicity to promote world peace. They famously spent their honeymoon in the Presidential Suite, Room 702, at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel for a week between March 25 and 31, while inviting the world's press into their hotel room every day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Following their seven-day Bed-In event at the Amsterdam Hilton, the couple flew to Vienna for a short trip where Lennon and Ono held a press conference in Vienna’s Hotel Sacher. Like the ‘Bed-In for Peace’ in Amsterdam, the Vienna event received worldwide press coverage, as the couple spoke from within a large white bag, leaving reporters unable to see them. This is referred to in Lennon’s agreement, as the ‘BAG-EVENT,’ also known as, ‘Bagism.’ These historic events would be immortalized by the Beatles in their final UK No. 1 Single ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko,’ which contains the lyrics: ‘Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton / Talking in our beds for a week / The newspapers said, ‘Say what you doing in bed?’ / I said, ‘We're only trying to get us some peace.’
The footage captured by Goessens in Amsterdam and Vienna resulted in a 40-minute color film entitled, ‘Mr. & Mrs. Lennon’s Honeymoon.’ On September 10, 1969, just two weeks prior to the release of the Beatles album Abbey Road, Lennon and Ono hosted a screening of the film at the New Cinema Club at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. Billed under the title of ‘John & Yoko Honeymoon,’ the film was directed by Goessens and shown courtesy of Apple Films and Bag Productions.
Lennon-signed items directly linked to the ‘Bed-In for Peace’ are quite rare and highly desirable. This was a monumental event in the life of John Lennon, occurring while he was still in the Beatles and during a short break from the Abbey Road recording sessions. Furthermore, signed contractual agreements by Lennon are scarce and desirable, making this particularly unique as it was drawn up by Lennon himself with direct ties to the historic Amsterdam ‘Bed-In for Peace.’ A fabulous John Lennon signed contract, with great content and superb signature that dates to an important and desirable period in Beatles history.
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