A SKETCH by John Lennon when he was 23 is up for sale for £12,000.

Entitled Lady Flying on a Wire, it shows an airborne figure resembling the Beatle with a bird flapping above.
John gave it to publisher Tom Maschler, who worked with him on his books of stories and sketches in the Sixties.
Mr Maschler kept the unsigned 10ins by 8ins artwork for five decades.
He wrote: “I very much enjoyed working closely with John while he produced the drawings and writings for the critically acclaimed books I published for him In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works.
“John acknowledged the affection and esteem I had for his work by giving me the raw materials for his books when the projects came to a close. “I think that ‘Lady Flying on a Wire’ is an exceptionally fine example of John’s work.
“I especially love John’s zany style, strong composition and the way that this piece verges on the surreal.”

A private collector is selling the sketch via US-based RR Auction, with a May 13 deadline.

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