
A Victorian Gothic manor in the English countryside that was home to the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts in the 1970s and ’80s has hit the market for £7.95 million (US$9.67 million).
Known as Foscombe House, the imposing castle-like mansion is in the village of Ashleworth, on the outskirts of Gloucester—about 120 miles northwest of London, Mansion Global reports.
Books and jazz collection belonging to late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts under the hammer in a two-part sale in September. Part one will take place in London on September 28.
Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone – Literature and Jazz will feature more than 500 lots, with price estimates ranging from 800 pounds to 300,000 pounds (S$1,300 - S$520,000).
The Rolling Stones rocker was an avid collector of literature, with his extensive collection set to go under the hammer in a landmark sale.
First edition copies of classic novels including F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles will feature in a two-part auction with Christie’s, two years after his death.
Among the highlights is a copy of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, with a dedication to screenwriter Harold Goldman inscribed inside the front cover to the original Gatsby. It has a price estimate of 200,000 pounds.
Also on sale are rare editions of books by George Orwell, James Joyce, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
Christie's described the literary lots as "an unparalleled library of modern first edition books, the finest and highest value collection of its kind to come to auction in over twenty years".
Among his jazz memorabilia being auctioned are saxophonist Charlie Parker's Associated Musicians Membership Card and an annotated printed score for Porgy and Bess by composer George Gershwin. This rare acetate recordings and a could fetch up to £15,000, are also listed.

“Charlie was the heartbeat of the Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years, he was totally unique and devoted to jazz and literature from boyhood," Watts' band mates Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood said in a statement.
"He was the quintessential English gentleman and his absence is a great loss for us all. We miss him hugely."
The flagship auction will take place in London on Sept. 28, while an online sale will run from Sept. 15-29, Christie's said.
Source. Reuters
Part one will take place in London on September 28, while part two will run online from September 15 to 29.
Paul Sexton, who wrote Watts’ biography, Charlie's Good Tonight, said the late musician ‘took great pleasure in owning these things’.
On June 30, BMG has released the first extensive anthology from the jazz catalog of the late Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts.

Available as a double vinyl and double CD edition, "Anthology" builds on nearly 20 years of his substantial catalog of jazz recordings in various configurations, including quartet, quintet, even larger formations up to the orchestra.
In "Anthology" alongside Watts there are big names starting with his lifelong friend and double bass player Dave Green, saxophonists such as Peter King, Evan Parker and Courtney Pine, trumpeter Gerard Presencer, drummer Jim Keltner and the singer and member of the live band of the Rolling Stones, Bernard Fowler.
Anthology:
01 Stompin’ at the Savoy (Live at Fulham Town Hall, London, 1986)
02 Flying Home (Live at Fulham Town Hall, London, 1986)
03 Practising, Practising, Just Great
04 Bluebird
05 Relaxing at Camarillo
06 Going, Going Going, Gone
07 Blackbird - White Chicks
08 Cool Blues (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, Birmingham, 1991)
09 Lover Man (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, Birmingham, 1991)
10 Perdido (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, Birmingham, 1991)
11 You Go to My Head
12 If I Should Lose You
13 My Ship
14 Long Ago (And Far Away)
15 Good Morning Heartache
16 Never Let Me Go
17 Roy Haynes
18 Airto
19 Elvin Suit
20 Roll ’Em Charlie (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2001)
21 What’s New (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2001)
22 Tin Tin Deo (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2001)
23 Sunset and the Mockingbird (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2001)
24 Take the “A” Train (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2001)
25 Rockhouse Boogie (Live at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon, 1978)
26 Ain’t Nobody Minding Your Store (Live at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon, 1978)
27 Swindon Swing (Live at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon, Jan 1978)
