Poignant final photo of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis taken three days before tragic star took his own life aged 23 goes on sale for £5,000

  • The passport photo was taken in a booth at a Macclesfield, Cheshire branch of former department store Woolworths on May 15, 1980
  • But the 23-year-old, who struggled with depression during his short life, killed himself three days later at his home
  • The band’s road manager Tony Mason travelled with Curtis to oversee the photo-taking before arranging a new passport for singer
  • He delivered three photos of Curtis to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London, the next day
  • There should have been four but Curtis was caught out by the flash with the first one and binned it
  • Forty-two years on, he is selling the 1.75ins by 2.25ins photo, which has been signed by Curtis in blue ink on the reverse

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

The last known photograph of tragic Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has emerged for sale for £5,000.

The passport photo was taken in a booth at a Macclesfield, Cheshire branch of former department store Woolworths on May 15, 1980, ahead of the band’s US tour.

But the 23-year-old, who struggled with depression during his short life, killed himself three days later at his home. 

Genius: The last known photograph of tragic Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has emerged for sale for £5,000. The image (pictured) was taken at Macclesfield branch of Woolworths on May 15, 1980

Genius: The last known photograph of tragic Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has emerged for sale for £5,000. The image (pictured) was taken at Macclesfield branch of Woolworths on May 15, 1980

The band’s road manager Tony Mason travelled with Curtis to oversee the photo-taking before arranging for a new passport for the Love Will Tear Us Apart singer.

He delivered three photos of Curtis to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London, the next day.

There should have been four but Curtis was caught out by the flash with the first one and binned it.

The embassy required two photos so Mason kept the spare one, showing Curtis in a brown shirt with the top button undone.

All yours: The photo (pictured), which was been signed by Curtis in blue ink on the reverse, is being sold by Omega Auctions, of Merseyside

All yours: The photo (pictured), which was been signed by Curtis in blue ink on the reverse, is being sold by Omega Auctions, of Merseyside

Tragic: The 23-year-old, who struggled with depression during his short life, killed himself at his home three days after the photo was taken

Tragic: The 23-year-old, who struggled with depression during his short life, killed himself at his home three days after the photo was taken

Forty-two years on, he is selling the 1.75ins by 2.25ins photo, which has been signed by Curtis in blue ink on the reverse, with Omega Auctions, of Merseyside. 

Mason said in a letter of provenance: 'Taken on the morning of Thursday 15th May 1980, at the Photo Me booth in Woolworths Macclesfield, in preparation for the US Tour.

'The band, Rob and the crew all needed to provide two passport photos, signed on the reverse complete with any middle initials.

'I was due to travel to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square the next day and I already had everyone else. Ian’s were the last to be collected.

Legendary: Joy Division released two albums, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979, and Closer, in 1980, with the iconic single Love Will Tear Us Apart recognised as era-defining

Legendary: Joy Division released two albums, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979, and Closer, in 1980, with the iconic single Love Will Tear Us Apart recognised as era-defining

'...Ian was in fine form and overly generous, we really thought that he had got his head around his domestic situation, and was making plans for the future.

'Three photos, shouldn’t there be a fourth? There was, but obviously it was the first flash that always caught you off guard and Ian didn’t want anyone see that one, and Ian had already binned it, so I was given three.

'The next day I caught the early train down to London, queued at the Embassy and waited for the passports to be stamped, before the Embassy closed its gates.' 

An Omega Auctions spokesperson said: 'Tony Mason has got an incredible collection of memorabilia relating to the band and after holding on to this photo for over 40 years he believes it is the right time to sell.

'This original passport photo was signed and given by Ian Curtis to Terry to obtain a visa for the planned US tour. It is the last known photo of Curtis.' 

Reinvention: Shortly after Curtis’s death, Joy Division changed their name to New Order, going on to achieve critical and commercial success throughout the 1980s and '90s (pictured in 2012)

Reinvention: Shortly after Curtis’s death, Joy Division changed their name to New Order, going on to achieve critical and commercial success throughout the 1980s and '90s (pictured in 2012)

Joy Division released two albums, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979, and Closer, in 1980, with the iconic single Love Will Tear Us Apart recognised as era-defining.

Shortly after Curtis’s death, they changed their name to New Order, going on to achieve critical and commercial success throughout the 1980s and '90s. 

The sale takes place on April 26.

Popular: Curtis was one of the most significant singers of his generation, but his life ended prematurely

Popular: Curtis was one of the most significant singers of his generation, but his life ended prematurely 

Depression

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