A.H. Wilkens to Auction Gordon Lightfoot's Iconic Canadian Heritage Guitar

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2025 /CNW/ - A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals will hold an auction of items from the estate of Canadian music legend Gordon Lightfoot, offering fans and musical historians a chance to glimpse into the personal and professional life of one of the country's most celebrated artist. 

The sale includes personal belongings, memorabilia, stage-worn costumes, set lists, awards, instruments including guitars from Lightfoot & Terry Clements, as well as rare photographs of Lightfoot, his band, with fellow artists and public figures. This exceptional sale offers buyers an opportunity to own a piece of Canadian folk-rock legend history.

Lightfoot is considered a Canadian folk-rock legend both here at home, and further abroad. His unique sound and lyrics passionately adored by fans bridges genres across decades. The auction features early memorabilia from his 1960s Orillia band the Two Timers & Two Tones, early music books and doodles from his school work presenting a background on Lightfoot's early life and what moulded his career as an iconic musician.

The auction also includes important documentation regarding the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald off Lake Superior. Lightfoot's 1976 classic hit The Wreck of the Summertime Dream album served as an anthem for the 29 lost crew members in the tragic shipwreck. November 10th commemorated the 50th anniversary of the sinking.

Lightfoot's performance acoustic guitar, the 1948 Martin D-18 is now considered a part of Canadian Music Heritage. The early guitar has spanned Lightfoot's stage career, iconically captured in most photographs of the musician on stage. The yellow happy face sticker iconically on the backside of the guitar, seen there for decades. This guitar along with Clement's Gretsch Country Gent and Tennesean will be up for auction at A.H. Wilkens.

The Estate of Gordon Lightfoot Auction will take place Wednesday, November 26th at A.H. Wilkens' Toronto gallery, with worldwide online bidding available through Liveauctioneers and Invaluable. Public previews will be held November 23rd, 24th and 25th from 12-5PM

Media viewing for the auction available by appointment.

Auction details

• Event: Estate of Gordon Lightfoot Auction
• Auction date: November 26, 11AM 
• Preview dates: November 23rd, 24th & 25th from 12 to 5pm
• Location: AH Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals, 1 William Morgan Drive, Toronto, ON
• Online bidding: LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable

SOURCE AH Wilkens

Media contact: Andrea Zeifman | 416.360.7600, [email protected] | www.ahwilkens.com, AH Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals