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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lauren Del Fabbro

Rare Bob Dylan draft lyrics found inside Allen Ginsberg book

Rare Bob Dylan lyrics, discovered tucked inside a poetry book, are set to go under the hammer with an estimated value of up to £40,000.

The torn page contains a type-written draft of Dylan’s song ‘I’m Not There’, originating from his 1967 Basement Tapes sessions.

This particular track was not officially released until decades later, in 2007, as part of the soundtrack for Todd Haynes’ film about the iconic songwriter.

The significant find was made within a first edition poetry book by Allen Ginsberg, a long-time friend of Dylan.

It is believed the lyrics have been hidden within Ginsberg’s book, ‘Ankor Wat’, since he gifted it in 1969 to model Sally Grossman. Grossman was also a close friend of Dylan and the wife of his first manager, Albert Grossman.

The book further features a signature and inscription by Ginsberg to Sally, who famously appeared on the cover of Dylan’s 1965 album, ‘Bringing It All Back Home’.

The lyrics and the book will go under the hammer on April 21 with Omega Auctions and are expected to sell for between £20,000 and £40,000.

The sellers said the find would cause ‘great excitement’ among Dylan scholars, fans and collectors (Omega Auctions/PA)

Dan Muscatelli-Hampson of Omega Auctions said: “This is a remarkable discovery and one that is sure to provoke great excitement amongst the Dylan scholars, fans and collectors around the world.

“The provenance story is fascinating, not least because the book had passed through several hands before our vendor was eventually the lucky owner who carefully leafed through the book to find this exceptionally rare page hidden inside.”

Dylan is one of the most acclaimed songwriters of all time, winning 10 Grammys and being nominated on 38 further occasions.

He began his career in 1962 with the single Mixed-Up Confusion, which failed to chart in the UK and US.

Bob Dylan lyrics found Inside Allen Ginsberg poetry book (Omega Auctions/PA)

But he shot to stardom with a string of successful singles in 1965, including ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’, ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ and ‘Like A Rolling Stone’.

He has since had six UK top 10 singles and nine UK number one albums.

Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.

The singer-songwriter was recently portrayed by Marty Supreme actor Timothee Chalamet in the biopic A Complete Unknown.

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