Marianne Faithfull's Diaries: Rare Book of the Week

Singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull's diaries are currently under the hammer at Bonhams' online Sound and Cinema auction which finishes on December 3.

Faithfull (1946-2025) was one of the key figures of 1960s London, including collaborations with The Rolling Stones, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Metallica and Blur.

The highlight of the sale is Marianne Faithfull's personal diary from 2005 (estimate: £1,500-£2,000)  including a 1959 journal and a 1989 journal with 'Goals' on the cover. The same lot also includes a Bible containing a concealed compartment for storing personal belongings, school Divinity and English essays from Marianne's time at St Joseph's convent, and a large collection of lyrics from her 2015/16 Give My Love To London tour, some typed, some handwritten, numerous with annotations, with a number of PJ Harvey lyrics and notes.

Other highlights from the auction include:

• ephemera including passports belonging to Faithfull and a 1964 telegram reading "Where on earth are you?" from her manager Tony Calder (estimate: £800–£1,200)
• a large collection of photographs, some professional and some personal (estimate: £600-£800)
• a selection of books from her personal library including The Rolling Stones: Rare and Unseen, with photography by Gered Mankowitz and inscribed by him "For darling Marianne With respect, admiration and much love Gered" and  a copy of Howl by Alan Ginsberg, inscribed by him to Faithfull with an added skeleton doodle  (estimate: £300-£500)
• Faithfull's personal vintage Simplex typewriter (estimate: £400-£600)
• Thom Yorke's handwritten lyrics for Radiohead's Creep in ballpoint pen on a promo postcard of the band (estimate: £3,000-£4,000)