Coldplay star Chris Martin's acoustic guitar an auction hit

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-33255647

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Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's first acoustic guitar has been sold at auction for nearly £19,000, more than twice the guide price.

The classical guitar, made by Tatay, was bought at a shop in Exeter, the city where Martin grew up.

He took it with him to university in London, where the band got together in 1996. The guitar was played on Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes.

It was sold at Bonhams in London, where it had a guide estimate of £7-9,000.

The lot went for £18,750, including auction premiums, the auction house's website said.

The instrument was sold with a hard-shell case featuring Martin's handwritten name, handmade stickers of the band's name - originally The Coldplay - and a flyer for the band's debut single, Yellow, taped to the side.

The case also contained a handwritten chord sheet for the track Help Is Round The Corner.

The guitar was originally sold by the band in a charity auction in 2009.

The winner of that auction, who wanted to remain anonymous, put it up for sale on Wednesday.

Coldplay were fourth in the Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2014, the BPI announced earlier this month.