The Unique Artifacts Series: Rolling Stones Commercially Sold Toy Guitar, c. 1964
When someone thinks of Rolling Stones merchandise, they would usually picture a t-shirt with their iconic logo, or a vinyl record of one of their thirty studio albums. This toy guitar, however, is definitely not the most practical form of merchandise out there. That wasn’t a problem for the Stones, though. Early on in their career, the group licensed their name and likeness for merchandising purposes. This move gave them a creative edge on their merch, allowing for strange products such as this autographed toy guitar. Loaned by the late Julio Mario Santo Domingo Jr., who was an avid rock & roll memorabilia collector and especially a fan of the Rolling Stones, the toy was manufactured sometime in the mid-1960s by the UK-based Selcol Company. During this period, the Stones were well on their way to becoming one of the most popular groups to come out of the London rock and roll scene. Having already received multiple Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications, their merchandise had become more and more sought after, and has since become a hot commodity across the UK and the US.
The Rolling Stones’ tumultuous tenure as the bad boys of rock and roll has become an iconic piece of popular music history, and it’s shown no signs of stopping. Whether it be through their merchandise, the music, or their everlasting cultural relevance, the Stones keep on a-rollin’.
Come check it out and more in the London/Liverpool section of our Cities & Sounds Exhibit, located in the Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall.
