The original art for the cover of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album sold Thursday at auction for $325,000 -- more than 10-times the estimate of $20,000-to-$30,000.
Christie's handled the sale on behalf of the artist,George Hardie, who created the artwork in 1969 while a student at the Royal College of Art in London. He was paid 60-pounds ($120), which is worth 994-pounds today ($1,234).
“I think the drawing made a good and memorable cover, but this was more to do with the photograph and Jimmy Page’s choice of it than with my skill as a dotter,” says Hardie.
The photo is of the German dirigible Hindenburg blowing up as it landed in 1937 in Lakehurst, New Jersey.