Kenwood: autograph, circa 1965.

An interesting lot from a sale at Christie's New York, in December 2006. It's a signed copy of In His Own Write, obtained by the seller during a visit to Kenwood in the company of Brian Epstein. Note the dedication - "To Diz"; unconfirmed rumour has it that said seller was none other than Brian's notorious inamorato John "Diz" Gillespie.
(Credit to Eppylover for originally unearthing this.)

Kenwood: December 26, 1967.

As adults, John and his father (the "ignoble Alf", though I reckon he has probably been unfairly maligned over the years) only had one Christmas together - at Kenwood, in 1967.
Christmas Day had been spent in the traditional fashion, exchanging gifts (Alf got a lighter from Julian, who was apparently fascinated by Alf's single) and getting drunk on "ales". John was, by all accounts, in a good frame of mind the following day, understandably pleased to be able to quiz his errant father over family history, and also looking forward to the evening, when Magical Mystery Tour, sandwiched between Frost Over Christmas/the News and a Norman Wisdom film, was to receive its premiere on BBC1.
In the afternoon came a knock at the door...some fans, looking to meet himself. Here's what one of them remembers:
"I went to John Lennon’s house in St. Georges Hills, Weybridge on 26 December 1967 with my brothers and sister. My older brother had discovered its location and had spoken to John Lennon’s gardener, he bored us all silly telling us about it time and time again. We decided to check out the veracity of his tale. When we arrived I was dared to knock on the door, which, with great trepidation, I did. To my amazement John Lennon answered the door, he was VERY charming and, after a 15 minute chat, gave me his autograph."
John signed a diary page, reproduced above. Incidentally, at the time of writing this very autograph is for sale from the good folk at TRACKS. Asking price? £1400.

Kenwood: more autographs - 22nd April, 1968.

Presumably secured at Kenwood, the date on these is interesting - 22nd April, 1968: ie a week after John and Cynthia's return from India, and just under a month before the Two Virgins night. Also unusual in that they feature, apparently, a pawprint from Bernard the dog (good grief), who was a late addition to the menagerie at Kenwood. Named in ironic tribute to Dot Jarlett's husband, the poor beast succumbed to something or other after little more than a year - just long enough for him to put in one further "public" appearance, sitting on John's lap at Apple as part of the promo films produced ca. spring 1968...

Kenwood: autograph & map of St George's Hill.

As can be seen from the map, Kenwood is buried deep within the St George's Hill estate. These days the estate itself is gated and guarded, and you will be turned away if not on legitimate business (gawking at Kenwood does not, sadly, count as legitimate business), but back in the John-era, fans were free to wander onto the estate and up to Kenwood and Sunny Heights, more or less at will. The only real appeal that the place had for John was as a refuge from the stresses of Beatlemania, and he was initially angry (understandably so) when fans started appearing not only at the gate, but also in the grounds and even, on one occasion, in the house itself. He would occasionally go out and tell them all to, quote, "Sod Off" asking, reasonably and amusingly enough, "Don't you have anything better to do with your lives?" (To which the answer would have to be, "Yes....and No." And I appreciate the irony of me recounting this). And yet, for whatever reason, after a while he accepted it, and even began leaving the gates open circa 1967 and inviting fans in to meet him. The autograph above dates from February '66. The recipient went up and knocked on the front door. Dot answered, and took the paper in to be signed, which it duly was. Apparently it was Julian who appeared with it a few minutes later. Considering Kenwood is not exactly easy to find, and that initially the address would have been akin to a state secret, I wonder how people found out about it in the first place...who blabbed?