GLASSES belonging to Beatles legend John Lennon are going up for auction in Knutsford.

Frank Marshall’s will be auctioning off the rare sunglasses at the beginning of November.

They were acquired by the auction house after previously being on display at the ‘Beatles Story’ exhibition at Albert Dock in Liverpool.

Nick Hall, principal auctioneer and valuer at Frank Marshall’s, said the glasses have an estimate value of between £20,000 and £30,000 but believes they could go for almost £50,000.

“They are not unique but exceptionally rare,” Nick said.

“To find them with the provenance as well then they are worth a lot more.”

In 1966 the Beatles flew out to the Far East for a tour that saw them visit Japan.

During their time there they stayed in the Hilton in Tokyo and were given an interpreter called Junishi Yore.

Mr Yore worked for a local television station and became good friends with Lennon.

When the tour had finished Lennon handed over the gold-rimmed sunglasses and he treasured them.

When he heard of the assassination he took the lenses out of the frames, as is the way in Japanese tradition.

They were sold in 2007 via an online memorabilia site and have been insured for £200,000 while at the exhibition on Merseyside. But in recent times Lennon’s son Julian has been buying up memorabilia relating to his father and Nick said it was a poignant time for them to go up for sale.

“The current owner realised that if he was going to realise his investment then this is the year to do it as in coincides with the 30th anniversary of his death and his 70th birthday,” he said.

“It is a major piece and it is nice that it’s happening locally as well. I know we will get massive interest when we get all the adverts out and we have contacted publications in Hollywood and New York.

“We are in contact with Julian and tried to contact Yoko but she is not as accessible.

“But we weren’t the only auction house trying to sell these and major dealers were battling to sell them but after negotiations I won the lot for Marshall’s.

“We have had a lot of major sales in recent years that have attracted media interest.”

The glasses will feature in the sale at Marshall’s in Knutsford on Tuesday, November 9.