Members of the Gibson company are launching a global search for a missing shipping ledger from 1959-’60, the time period which saw the company produce some of the most sought-after guitars in the world.
And they’re willing to award $59,000 cash for its safe return.
The 1959-’60 ledger disappeared from the company’s archives roughly three decades ago. It may not have been part of its move from Kalamazoo, Mich., to its current hometown of Nashville.
“As a custodian of Gibson, I am very excited about this search,” said Gibson Chief Merchant Officer Cesar Gueikian. “It will be interesting to see where in the world they surface, given that the last time they were seen was in Michigan.”
Gibson’s Les Paul Standard guitars made between 1957 and 1960 are part of what is considered the company’s “Golden Era.” There were only 643 Gibson Les Pauls made in 1959, and Gibsons made between 1958 and 1960 have been played by Jimmy Page, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Billy Gibbons and many others.
Gueikian said the information in the ledger is invaluable to the company.
“While they are dusty old books to anyone else, these ledgers are part of our history, DNA and our iconic past,” he said. “These ledgers contain the shipping information, including the serial numbers and shipping part for the most valuable guitars in history, the Gibson 1959 and 1960 bursts.”
Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa agreed.
“To find the original ledgers is to unearth knowledge of a pivotal point in America’s contribution to not only guitar manufacturing, but to rock ’n’ roll itself,” Bonamassa said.
