We realize this piece of news borders on tasteless, but one of the most macabre pieces of rock memorabilia in history is for sale. NME is reporting that the copy of John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double Fantasy' that he signed for Mark David Chapman hours before the ex-Beatle was killed by Chapman, is being auctioned off. And it is of a sad coincidence that this news arrived on the anniversary of that tragic event.

California auction house Moments In Time is selling the album on behalf of its owner, who purchased it in 2003. According to the listing, the record not only bears Lennon's autograph on the cover, but also Chapman's forensically enhanced fingerprints. The marking "WJT-2" appears in black ink just above Lennon's signature, which is presumably some code from its use as evidence.

“We are very excited to bring such a historically significant piece to the market,” said Bob Zafian of Moments in Time, who is also the agent for the seller. “I have never come across a piece with such provenance; police reports, fingerprint documentation, letters from the District Attorney, it goes on and on”.

This is the third time the album is being on the market. The man who found the album outside Lennon's apartment sold it in 1999, and it changed hands four years later. While the price is only available by request, its sale in 2003 came with a reserve price of $525,000.

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