The Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar famously used by Noel Gallagher during the writing and recording of Oasis' landmark second album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, is set to be sold at auction. This rare piece of rock history is being offered through Sotheby’s, alongside a handwritten lyric sheet for the anthem 'Don’t Look Back In Anger' and a Rickenbacker 12-string model that served as a staple in Gallagher’s arsenal for a decade.
This marks the first time the EJ-200 has been made available for public sale. Industry experts estimate the instrument will fetch between £45,000 and £60,000 when online bidding commences on Thursday, April 9. The guitar is accompanied by a formal letter of authenticity, confirming its pivotal role in the creation of the 1995 record.
A Holy Grail for Britpop Collectors
Craig Inciardi, a pop culture specialist at Sotheby’s, highlighted the significance of the instrument, noting that it remains representative of the style Gallagher continues to favor today. Reflecting on the band's rapid creative output during that era, Inciardi remarked, “It was quite extraordinary how they managed to record it in such a fast period of time. [Gallagher] was just so prolific... if you look at that album and you look at the track listing, it looks like a greatest hits album.”
The guitar’s journey to the auction block is as storied as the music it helped create. Gallagher originally gifted the instrument to a roadie, from whom it was eventually acquired by the current seller—a dedicated Oasis enthusiast who moved within the band's inner circle during the mid-nineties. Inciardi described the guitar as a “holy grail” for collectors, emphasizing that the provenance of such functional objects has driven their value significantly higher in recent years.
The Legacy of a Modern Classic
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? remains one of the most successful albums in music history, having sold over 22 million copies worldwide. Featuring definitive tracks such as 'Wonderwall', 'Champagne Supernova', and 'Some Might Say', the album spent 10 weeks at Number One in the UK and secured the band a BRIT Award for Best British Album in 1996.
The auction follows a period of renewed interest in the band's history, bolstered by the 30th-anniversary reissues of their classic material and the massive success of their Live ’25 reunion tour. Previous auctions have also seen high-profile sales of Oasis memorabilia, including a guitar smashed during the band's 2009 split, which sold for £325,000, and an Epiphone Les Paul from the Definitely Maybe era.
Looking Ahead
As the band continues to reflect on their legacy, fans are also anticipating a new documentary project from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. The project, which chronicles the band's return to the stage, is currently reported to be four hours in length. Noel Gallagher has expressed cautious optimism regarding the film, noting that while he has only seen snippets, the feedback from those who have viewed the full cut has been overwhelmingly positive.
With Gallagher recently confirming he is back in the studio, speculation remains high regarding whether he is working on new Oasis material or solo projects. For now, the auction of this iconic acoustic guitar serves as a tangible reminder of the creative explosion that defined the Britpop era.