Lennon letter sells for £12,000

letter written by John Lennon to a journalist who accused The Beatles of ripping off black music has sold at auction for £12,000 ($22,000). Lennon's angry, handwritten message reads: "Many kids were turned on to black music by us. It wasn't a rip off, it was a love-in". The letter was one of 12 items of Lennon memorabilia under the hammer at the Bonhams auction house in London. A copy of the Sergeant Pepper album signed by The Beatles sold for £14,000. However, a black felt hat which Lennon wore in the last official Beatles photoshoot failed to sell. There have been several auctions of Lennon-related items in recent months. A schoolbook featuring the singer's drawing of Lewis Carroll's poem The Walrus and the Carpenter sold for £126,000 in April.
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