Example Information:
Beatles Rare Early Signatures with Roy Young and Bernard Boyle in Matted Display (Hamburg, 1962). Also signed by the founder of the first-ever Beatles Fan Club (and a sometime Beatles roadie) Bernard Boyle. A 5.75" x 4" deckle-edged B&W glossy photo of the group with instruments in their black leather outfits. On the back is printed "With Best Wishes from Paul Pete John George. The Beatles. April 5th 1962". Around the text are clear blue ballpoint signatures: "für Christa von George Harrison", "für Christa von Paul McCartney", "Roy Young" (signed twice), "für Christa von John Lennon", "Best Wishes from Pete Best", and "Best Wishes from Bernard Boyle". These photos were given out at a Cavern Club concert honoring the Official Fan Club on the above date. Double matted with an 8.75" x 6" B&W photo of the Beatles on stage with Roy Young at the Star Club to an overall 11.75" x 15.75". These autographs are of German origin. Minor wear and some light fingerprints at the bottom edge, overall Fine. From the Uwe Blaschke Beatles Collection. COA from Heritage Auctions. Roy Young was a British Rock singer and pianist who had some success in the late fifties on various Pop music TV shows and touring with Cliff Richard and the Shadows. His records on Fontana and Ember during this period had only modest sales. In 1961, he decided to move to Hamburg with its burgeoning music scene and took up residence in the Top Ten Club, performing with Tony Sheridan, Ringo Starr, and others. When the Star-Club opened in April 1962, he moved to the new venue where he regularly played piano and sang background vocals for the Beatles. According to various interviews, Young claims that he had an offer to become a member of the group: "I remember coming off stage one night and Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, was standing at the side of the stage," he recalls. "Brian said, 'may I have a word? The lads asked me to ask if you would be interested in going back to England and join them to get a record contract'. "I told him it was an incredible offer but I would have to think about it. If I had been smart enough there is no doubt what I would have done." Instead, Roy says, he took the decision to stay in Hamburg. "I went back to Brian and said 'I'm going to decline your offer because I'm under contract with the Star-Club'. I could have got out of it. But I'd walked out of the Top Ten Club (another Hamburg club in the Beatles story) and I thought 'I just can't do it again'." (The Oxford Times UK interview, April 12, 2012). According to the Mersey Beat (Issue 5, August 31, 1961) it was Bernard Boyle who formed the first-ever Fan Club for the Beatles. He was a huge admirer of the group from the early days, even to the point of losing his job for spending too much time at lunchtime sessions at the Cavern. "I talked to Bob Wooler and kept saying to him, 'This group's the f**king greatest ever!'-so he introduced me to them. I was over the moon. I looked up to all of them: I was young, naive, wide-eyed, and I thought these guys were the greatest in the world. My one-hour lunch breaks from the office got longer and longer until eventually I went back to find I'd been fired. So I started doing occasional jobs for the Beatles, to help Neil. I'd carry the gear and go to gigs with them in the van. I was just a kid but I wormed my way in and they didn't mind." (Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years by Mark Lewisohn, page 464).
Example 2 Information:
Beatles Early Signatures on the Back of a Promotional Photo Card in Matted Display (Hamburg, 1962). A 5.75" x 4" deckle-edged B&W glossy photo of the Beatles with instruments in their black leather outfits. On the back is printed "With Best Wishes from Paul Pete John George. The Beatles. April 5th 1962". Surrounding are neat and dark blue ballpoint signatures as follows: "für Monika viele grüße von George Harrison" ("many regards for Monika"), "To Monika, best wishes John Lennon", "To Monika from Paul McCartney", and "Best Wishes to Monica from Pete Best". These promo cards were given out at a Cavern Club concert honoring their newly-formed Official Fan Club on the above date. It's quite likely that any extras were taken with them to Hamburg for the Star-Club grand opening performances that started just a few days later. The German sentiment from George would indicate that this one was signed in Hamburg. Double matted with an enlargement of the photo on the front to an overall 11.75" x 15.75". A couple of minor light stains near the signatures, overall Fine. From the Uwe Blaschke Beatles Collection. COA from Heritage Auctions. This Thursday night, April 5th concert was advertised as "An Evening with John, George, Paul & Pete. The Beatles for their fans." Bob Wooler was the DJ and The Four Jays were also on the bill. Tickets were 6s 6d and sold at NEMS and the club itself. Purchasers of tickets were to receive a free photograph (like this one) and could apply there for free membership in the Fan Club. One of the most interesting things about this show is that the Beatles did their first set in their "leathers" as typical and as shown in this photo. Bob Wooler made an announcement before the second set that "The Beatles will be appearing in their new suits!" And they finished the show in coats and ties, part of manager Brian Epstein's efforts to "clean up" their appearance a bit. The photo used for this promo card was taken from their first professional photo shoot arranged by Brian Epstein on December 17, 1961. The photographer was Albert Marrion, a local wedding photography and the session took place at his Wallasey studio on a Sunday morning. Epstein knew of Marrion because he had been the photographer at Clive Epstein's wedding.
Example 3 Information:
An early publicity postcard featuring The Beatles, including Pete Best, dressed in black leathers, April 1962, signed and inscribed on the verso in blue ballpoint pen To Pete Best Wishes from John Lennon; To Pete, best wishes Paul McCartney; To Pete, George Harrison; and Best Wishes Pete from Pete Best -- 4x6in. (10.2x15cm.)
Example 4 Information:
A rare early black and white publicity postcard, 5 April, 1962, signed and inscribed on the reverse in blue ballpoint pen To Dave, best wishes from John Lennon [with xxx crossed out]... To Dave, George Harrison... To Dave, best wishes, Paul McCartney... Best Wishes (love) to Dave, Pete Best 4x5¾in. (10.5x14.5cm.)
Example 5 Information:
A rare early black and white publicity postcard, April, 1962, signed and inscribed on the reverse in blue ballpoint pen Auntie May, See you when we get back from Germany in about 7 weeks time, Ta-ra, Paul xxx -- 4 1/8x5¾in. (10.5x14.6cm.)
Example 6 Information:
An autographed publicity photograph of the Beatles, 1962, signed on the reverse in blue ballpoints by John, Paul, George and Pete and with dedications To Stella, 10 x 15cm (4 x 6in)
Example 7 Information:
An autographed 'Mersey Beat' clipping about the Beatles, issue March-April 1962, signed by John, Paul and George in blue ballpoint and with dedications To Stella, 15 x 23cm (6 x 9in approximately)
Example 8 Information:
A rare original promotional card that was issued for The Beatles performance which took place at the Cavern Club, Liverpool on 5th April 1962 which has been signed on the reverse by the group in blue ballpoint ink. George Harrison has signed his name ‘George Hagson’ and added the inscription ‘To Jürgen’ below his name. Each autograph is very well spaced. The special concert was organised by The Beatles Fan Club and was dubbed ‘the Beatles for their fans’. During the concert for old time’s sake the group played the first part of the show in their black leather outfits and then they changed into their new Beno Dorn suits and ties for the second part. Just six days after the Cavern performance on 13th April 1962 The Beatles would arrive the Star Club, Hamburg for a series of nightly performances that would run to 31st May 1962. The group had taken some of the unused Cavern Club cards to Hamburg to promote themselves which is where this one was signed. The autographs come with a letter from the previous owner that reads ‘I got my Beatles autographs when I was thirteen or fourteen, I was a big Beatles Fan. My father was always listened to The Beatles and he took me to the film Yellow Submarine. This time I wrote stories about how I met Paul and the rest of The Beatles in my fantasy. My parents had some Taxi’s, where students and different people were driving, one girl was around 10 years older than me like me very much. This time I was telling everybody about my love of The Beatles, especially Paul. One day, Zenta, this was the girls name, was coming, telling me she had a present for me from her friend Jürgen, who was at this concert in Hamburg. She was telling him about me and then he gave it to her’. The card measures 15cm x 10.5cm (5.9 inches x 4.1 inches). The condition is very good.
Example 9 Information:
Finding a promotional post card signed by the Beatles is rare, finding one signed by five of the group's members is exceptional. But in this year's annual Beatles auction, there are no less than two sets of autographs like this. This set features five Beatles signatures. The promotional card they are on is from the Fan Club Night in the Cavern in April 1962. The reverse of the card is signed by John, Paul, George, Pete and, presumably at a slightly later date, Ringo. So if you have 5-6 grand (£'s) to spare... The 2013 Liverpool Beatles Auction will take place on Saturday 24th August at The Paul McCartney Auditorium in LIPA, Liverpool.
Example 10 Information:
The Beatles - John, Paul George and Pete. The occasion for the appearance of this promotional photocard was Fan Club Night, presented by the Beatles Fan Club, April 5, 1962 at the Cavern Club. Upon admission each patron received an unsigned card. Quite a few of these cards were signed after the show for fans (mostly female) who lined up for their autographs.
Example 11 - 12 Information:
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