ATLANTIC CITY, N.J, — Now that he’s a beloved musical icon, turning 80 and embraced by blacks and whites, it’s difficult to understand that B.B. King comes from a time when there were two ...

The instrument, which includes a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl and a headstock emblazoned with “B.B. King 80,” was one of the guitarist’s primary instruments in his later touring years.

Before the auction, Julien's estimated the guitar's value at $80,000 to $100,000. The headstock has "B.B. King 80" and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the guitar is autographed on the back.

The headstock has “B.B. King 80” and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the guitar is autographed on the back. The Gibson company gave King the guitar as a gift. Early in his career ...

The headstock has “B.B. King 80” and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The guitar is estimated to be worth $80,000 to $100,000. The guitar was not the first to bear the name. The story goes ...

The headstock has “B.B. King 80” and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the guitar is autographed on the back. The Gibson company gave King the guitar as a gift. Early in his career ...

Julien's says Gibson gave King the instrument for his 80th birthday. The headstock has "B.B. King 80" and a crown inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The guitar is estimated to be worth $80,000 to $100,000.