Block Auction House
Live Auction

Important Rosa Parks Archive, Gibson Guitar & Estates

Fri, Feb 27, 2026 12:00PM EST
  2026-02-27 12:00:00 2026-02-27 12:00:00 America/New_York Block Auction House Block Auction House : Important Rosa Parks Archive, Gibson Guitar & Estates https://auction.blockauctionhouse.com/auctions/block-auction-house/important-rosa-parks-archive-gibson-guitar-estates-22295
Block Auction House presents an Important Winter Estates Auction highlighted by the Rosa Parks Congressional Career Archive, documenting Parks’ professional life in Detroit following her historic civil rights leadership. Presented during Black History Month, the sale features African and African American material, a 1966 Gibson ES-335TD, and handcrafted model ships by Otto J. Kirchner. Additional offerings include estate jewelry, fine art, decorative arts, and furniture. Live, online-only on February 27th at 12:00 PM EDT.
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Lot 160

Gibson ES-335TD Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar, Circa 1966, Sunburst

Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000
Starting Bid
$2,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$200 $10
$500 $50
$2,500 $100
$5,000 $500

Serial number 309799, consistent with mid-1966 Gibson production. Orange Gibson interior label present with model designation visible; stamped serial number on the back of the headstock is extremely faint. Manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Headstock retains correct Gibson script logo with crown inlay. No visible headstock breaks or repairs observed. The guitar is currently missing strings and was not evaluated under full string tension. Truss rod adjusts freely. Nut width measures approximately 1 5/8 inches. Neck finish shows heavy play wear, including edge wear and areas of flaking along the binding. Fingerboard and frets show expected wear consistent with age and use. The instrument is fitted with an ABR-1–style bridge, exhibiting an angled orientation consistent with typical setup adjustment. Visible hardware variation beneath one bridge post suggests replacement or adjustment at some point. Stop tailpiece present. Bridge and tailpiece hardware show normal wear and oxidation. Electronics feature dual humbucking pickups consistent in appearance with original Gibson patent-number–era units. The neck pickup was removed for inspection (photo included), while the bridge pickup could not be removed due to a stripped mounting screw and was not inspected internally. Both pickups are present and intact. Control knobs are black “top hat” style with silver inserts; wiring and potentiometers were not removed or tested. The guitar was not amplified or function-tested. Tuners are later Schaller replacements marked “Made in W. Germany.” Multiple additional tuner holes are visible from prior installations. The body shows multiple additional holes from prior hardware installations, including: Seven holes along the lower rim, Two holes on the treble-side top near the control area, One larger hole beneath the right side of the bridge, filled. Finish shows extensive checking, wear, and cosmetic blemishes throughout, including localized chips and finish loss, consistent with age and use. No structural cracks were observed in the areas examined. The guitar is housed in a hard case with orange interior; the case shows heavy wear consistent with age and use. Please see photos for additional details. | Dimensions: 42.25 x 16 x 3.5 in Weight: 19.2lbsShelf: 51B

Condition

All items show signs of wear consistent with age and use. The absence of specific condition notes does not imply the item is in perfect condition or free from defects. Please review all photos carefully before bidding.

Overall Dimensions
Height: 3.50 in
Width: 16.00 in
Depth: 42.25 in

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Shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. Most items are eligible for in-house shipping. A separate shipping invoice will be sent within 5 business days of the auction close. Large, heavy, fragile, or high-value items will receive a UPS shipping quote. Buyers may request a list of recommended third-party shippers if preferred. All shipping costs are non-refundable. Local pickup is available by appointment at our Ferndale, Michigan facility. Pickup or shipping must be scheduled within 15 business days of the invoice date to avoid storage fees.

Provenance: From a private collection. Additional provenance, if known, is listed in the lot description. Block Auction House makes no guarantees regarding provenance unless stated in writing.