John Lennon's letter sells for $12,000

LONDON, May 24 (UPI) -- An angry letter sent to a journalist by the late Beatle John Lennon sold during a London auction for 12,000 pounds ($22,423).

In response to the journalist's charge that the Beatles ripped off black music, Lennon wrote: "Many kids were turned on to black music by us. It wasn't a rip off, it was a love-in."

An autographed copy of the Fab Four's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album went for 14,000 pounds ($26,160) at Bonhams auction house, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The black felt hat that Lennon wore during the group's final photo shoot did not sell, the BBC said.