The Most Valuable Collectors' Items in History

89. 1959 Les Paul Guitar

Manufacturer: Gibson
Original Price: $300*
Value today: $2,000,000*

Described as the “Holy Grail” of guitars, the 1959 Gibson Les Paul has a base price estimate of $500,000. The 1959 Les Paul guitars were special because they were the first to have what would later become the classic Gibson formula: a mahogany body with a maple top, burst finish, PAF pickups and a tune-o-matic bridge.

The '59 Les Paul has been played by iconic musicians such as Jimmy Page, the founder of Led Zeppelin. Les Paul, the inventor of this Holy Grail guitar, helped pioneer the concept of the solid electric guitar, which would become essential to the rock 'n roll sound.