An Iconic Prince Guitar—Thought To Be Lost—Sells For More Than Half A Million

Prince used the custom-made Cloud 2 electric guitar on tours to promote hits like “Purple Rain,” “Parade,” and “Lovesexy,” as well as on iconic television appearances like Saturday Night Live’s 15th anniversary special.

Despite being one of Prince’s most recognizable instruments, auction house Julien’s Auctions didn’t appear to be aware of the item’s significance when it was first announced the guitar would be sold, and was listed as just a “custom-made 1984 blue Cloud guitar used by Prince,” according to Rolling Stone.

It wasn’t until after the auction house was contacted by conservationist John Woodland, who works on Prince guitars, that it was confirmed to be the iconic “Blue Angel” guitar, previously thought to be lost.

Julien’s Auctions head Darren Julien said the “Blue Angel” is “the most significant Prince guitar that’ll ever come up for auction.”

Woodland told Rolling Stone he’d heard rumors the guitar had made its way to Holland, and while Julien’s Auctions declined to comment on the item’s provenance, representatives told the magazine it had been in a private collection since the nineties after being gifted by Prince to the previous owner.

Before the Julien’s Auctions knew the guitar was the “Blue Angel,” it was estimated to go at auction for $100,000, and later rose to $500,000 after the origins were confirmed, both lower than the $563,000 bid that ended up winning.