Hidden Letters from Rolling Stones Founder Brian Jones Found in Drawer, Expected to Fetch Thousands at Auction

Terry Wainwright discovered a collection of personal letters and snapshots hidden in a display cabinet belonging to his late mother, Sylvia Wainwright, who died this year at age 78. The letters, written in 1964, were penned by Sylvia to her sister Lynn and document her social interactions with members of the Rolling Stones, including founder Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. Sylvia was working in a clothes shop in Chiswick, West London at the time and had applied to study dress design at the Royal Academy of Art. Her letters describe parties at Jagger's flat, nights out with various pop stars, the band's plans for an American tour, and her developing romance with the 22-year-old Brian Jones, who is portrayed as a thoughtful "boy next door" offering flowers and gifts. The archive includes handwritten messages and signatures from Jones himself, with one note reading: "Hi love! Brian here. How are you?" The collection is expected to fetch between $2,010-$2,680 when auctioned at Hansons Auctioneers, with the auction house's music expert noting that the letters provide intimate insight into the band during their rise to worldwide stardom.